Warren County Middle School’s soccer team had a successful road trip as the Pioneers first dropped in on Coffee County and took a 5-0 win Thursday, followed by a trip to DeKalb County on Friday where they defeated the Saints 8-0, remaining unbeaten on the season.
Missing starter John Jackson, who was recovering from an ankle injury suffered against Harris Middle, and Carter Smith, the Pioneers (6-0) decided to adapt their formation to only three defenders, adding a striker to make up for the missing Carter.
“This meant that we had to play quick and use the numbers to our advantage in the attack,” said WCMS coach Matt Jackson. “Coffee County might not be very skilled but they did a good job of getting bodies in the way, and it took us a while to find the net. We had to work at passing out wide, pulling the defenders out, then crossing in.”
The Red Raiders blinked first, as Dominique Betancourt did an excellent job up front at center forward scoring the first two goals of the night. Once the Pioneers drew first blood, they didn’t stop as left forward Kade Simpson scored the next two goals and right forward Joan Garcia scored the final goal to blank Coffee County, 5-0.
Coffee County couldn’t muster an offensive attack so the Pioneer goalkeeper and defense weren’t threatened throughout the contest.
The DeKalb County Saints didn’t have a prayer Friday as the Pioneers were on roll and shut them down, 8-0.
The Pioneers saw the return of Carter but were missing left defender Daniel Cruz in the matchup and Jackson was cleared to play, although Warren County kept him out of the first lineup. The Pioneers went back to their familiar 3-4-3 formation with the return of Jackson and Carter.
“DeKalb had better skill than Coffee, but did not do as good a job of keeping defenders in front of the ball,” Jackson said. “Most of them stabbed at the ball and we were able to just go around them with skill.”
The Pioneers struck first in Smithville as Ayden Guyvara put a corner kick spot on into the box and a Saints defender tried to head it away but put it back into their own goal instead.
Marvin Franco struck next for the Pioneers as he handled a pass at the top of the penalty box and blasted in a shot, 2-0. Betancourt then scored the third goal in a Pioneer rally that would last past the break into the second half.
Joan Garcia hit the fourth goal and Jackson scored the fifth before the break and the sixth just after. Kade Simpson scored the seventh goal while Betancourt knocked home the eighth and final score of the night, 8-0.
The closest the Saints came to scoring was in the first half when a DeKalb defender booted the ball into Pioneer territory and Warren County’s keeper, Jahier Martinez, wasn’t used to the yellow lines that are usually red on home field, coming outside the box to pick up the ball for possession drawing a yellow card.
Coach Jackson put put in junior varsity goalie Tyler Simpson who promptly saved the following direct free kick DeKalb had been awarded because of the yellow card and finished out the first half for the Pioneers.
“He did well and hopefully we all learned a lesson in the process,” Jackson said.
The Pioneers were scheduled to face Franklin County South Tuesday night but the contest was canceled due to inclement weather.