It may have taken awhile, but the Warren County Middle School soccer team has grown comfortable playing its home games at Nunley Stadium.
After starting the season with two losses at home, the Pioneers have won three straight. The latest win came Friday when Warren County toppled Tullahoma 2-1.
The Pioneers needed second-half goals from Juan Casas and James Jackson to defeat the visiting Wildcats.
The teams played to a draw in the first half as neither team could find the mark. At halftime, coach Matt Jackson urged his Pioneer squad to continue passing and looking for an open shot.
The pressure increased when Tullahoma opened the second half with a goal.
Heavy traffic in front of the Pioneer net contributed to the goal. Keeper Victor Fajardo looked like he had stopped the action by getting two hands on the ball, but a quick kick by Tullahoma put the team on the board and left Fajardo with two swollen fingers.
The Pioneers regrouped after the goal was allowed despite an apparent interference with the keeper.
Casas tied the score shortly after as the Pioneers were awarded a free kick 30 yards from the goal.
Casas took the kick, hitting a shot into a pile of players in front of the Tullahoma net. The ball ricocheted back to Casas, who drilled a low shot through a crowd and past the Tullahoma keeper for Warren County’s first goal.
Jackson took care of the rest. The sixth-grader, who played a big role in a win over Franklin North last week, was able to maneuver his way for an open look from the left side.
With just an inch of daylight, Jackson fired a shot. The Tullahoma keeper got a hand on the ball, but the carom found the back on the net and propelled the Pioneers to victory.
The win improved Warren County to 6-3 overall and clinched a No. 3 seed in the Central Tennessee Conference tournament.
The Pioneers end the regular season with a home game this Thursday against Coffee  County. Action will start at 5:30 p.m.