Getting to the top of the conference was the goal of the Warren County Middle School soccer team last year. After accomplishing it with a Central Tennessee Conference championship, the Pioneers came back this year hoping to find a way not to be knocked off their perch.
Warren County continued its dominating run in conference play by repeating as champion Saturday. The Pioneers beat Shelbyville 2-1 in the CTC championship game,  capping a perfect 10-0 season.
The dream of a perfect season went by the wayside in the first matchup of the year when Shelbyville beat Warren County 8-2, but the Eagles would be forced to forfeit the win later in the season when it was determined the team used ineligible players. Avenging that early loss and having a chance to repeat as champions were more than enough motivation for the Pioneers, according to coach Matt Jackson.
“It was great to repeat, but even greater after they had beat us earlier in the year,” said Jackson. “It seemed to me that they had gotten used to easy games and that caused them to get lazy when they lost the ball. My boys never quit and it earned them the victory.”
Before the showdown with Shelbyville in the final, both teams had to pick up victories in the semifinals held at Nunley Stadium. Warren County started the day by beating Tullahoma 5-0 while Shelbyville followed with a 2-1 victory over Franklin North.
In the Pioneers’ first game, Adrian Tejas scored two first-half goals to give his team a 3-0 halftime lead. Richard Gonzalez scored the game’s first goal.
Defender Joshua Macanus got a chance to play offense in the second half and responded with a goal before James Jackson finished off the blowout with a score before coach Jackson cleared his bench.
Warren County got a break to watch Shelbyville squeeze by Frankin North and set up a championship game between the two teams who have met in the finals the last three years.
The extra rest seemed to do the Pioneers good in the championship when they came out as the aggressors.
Warren County controlled action for most of the first half as the home team fired shot after shot at the Shelbyville goal. The Pioneers used counterattacks and splendid passing to get open looks, though many opportunities fell by the wayside early.
Gonzalez made sure the Pioneers wouldn’t go dry after a dominating first half though.
Late in the first half, Jackson had control of the ball while operating in the middle of the Shelbyville defense.
With all the Eagles’ focus on the Pioneers leading scorer, Gonzalez was able to get through to an open spot. Jackson found his teammate and Gonzalez hit a great passing shot to put the Pioneers up 1-0.
The score would remain the same until halftime, when Warren County was able to regroup and coach Jackson had time to urge his team to continue to look for scoring opportunities.
“We were up 1-0, which in soccer is not enough. We didn’t want to have to play any extra, even though I figured we could win a shootout,” said Jackson.
Any extra time was adverted when the Pioneers went up 2-0 and hung on late.
After being held without a goal in the first half, Jackson finally broke through with what proved to be the game-winning goal. Jackson weaved through the defense and unleashed a shot the Shelbyville keeper had no chance at stopping. Jackson’s 21st goal of the season gave the Pioneers just enough cushion as Shelbyville tried a late rally.
The Eagles scored with five minutes to play to make things interesting, but keeper Josiah Jackson and the Pioneer defense were up to the task in the final seconds. When the final whistle blew, Warren County was able to celebrate its second championship in a row and a perfect season on its home field.
Coach Jackson was right in the middle as he couldn’t have been prouder of his team’s effort.
“Everyone played their hearts our and we came away victors again,” said Jackson.