Lady Pioneer soccer wins in sudden death

Freshman Kinsley Simpson, pictured in a home game, had the game-winning save in sudden death PKs Tuesday in Franklin County.

For 80 minutes Tuesday night, freshman Kinsley Simpson refused to let Franklin County find the back of the net. When the Lady Pioneers needed her to do it one more time with everything on the line, Simpson delivered.

Simpson made the game-winning save in sudden-death penalty kicks as Warren County escaped Franklin County with a thrilling district victory, setting off a wild celebration as her teammates rushed the freshman keeper following a scoreless battle in regulation.

The victory pushed Warren County to 4-1 overall and, more importantly, 2-0 in district play.

"What an incredible team effort," said coach Todd Willmore. "Our girls played with tremendous intensity, resilience and perseverance from start to finish. I could not be more proud of their willingness to trust in their abilities, stay committed and overcome adversity throughout the entire night."

After dramatic saves and close calls were pulled off by both teams through 80 minutes, the final whistle sounded with the teams right where they started - knotted up at 0-0. But there wasn't going to be a tie on the humid night in Winchester.

District rules send matches that are even after regulation directly to penalty kicks, setting up a pressure-packed finish with Warren County shooting first. Senior Addi Steakley walked to the spot first calm, cool, and collected and blasted her shot past the keeper.

Franklin County answered.

Gisell Escamilla followed for Warren County and put a quality strike on goal, but Franklin County's keeper guessed correctly and made the save. Noelle Bratcher converted Warren County's next attempt and Emory MacDonald followed by burying another into the side netting.

Franklin County kept answering.

That left senior Maci McBride facing a must-make fifth attempt to keep Warren County's hopes alive. McBride didn't flinch, hammering her shot past the Franklin County keeper who never had a chance against the heater to extend the shootout.

Then it was Simpson's turn to stare down the pressure when Franklin County had a chance to end the match. The freshman wasn’t going to allow it.

“Kinsley read it perfectly and put herself in great position to make the save. The shot sailed just over her hands and the crossbar, keeping us alive and sending the shootout into sudden death,” said Willmore.

Addisyn Watson stepped forward as Warren County's sixth shooter and calmly sent her attempt into the net. For the first time in sudden death, Franklin County had to score to survive.

Willmore noted that “the atmosphere became eerily quiet as she approached the ball,” when the Rebels’ sixth shooter made her approach. Simpson was again in the right place at the right time, throwing two hands up on the shot meant to get her out of position through the middle to preserve the victory for Warren County.

The Lady Pioneers poured onto the field and swarmed their freshman keeper, celebrating a victory that kept Warren County perfect through its first two district matches.

"It was such a special moment and an incredible way to finish the match," said Willmore. "The girls showed heart, toughness, confidence and a willingness to fight for one another from the opening whistle through the final PK."

Warren County had chances to make the night much less dramatic.

The Lady Pioneers generated two quality scoring opportunities in the first half, including one Franklin County's keeper was barely able to turn away, but couldn't capitalize. Franklin County had chances of its own, only to repeatedly run into Simpson and a Warren County defense that has continued to establish itself as one of the team's biggest strengths.

Simpson's biggest first-half stop came just before the break. Franklin County fired a shot toward the upper corner that appeared destined for the net before Simpson reacted and got a hand on it to knock the ball wide. She followed by making another save on the ensuing corner to preserve the scoreless tie.

The Lady Pioneers' back line of McBride, Watson, Summer Wanamaker and Kacey Mitchell helped make sure those dangerous chances were rare, while Ashlyn Bailey continued to provide support in the holding midfield.

"We talked before the match about the importance of applying pressure and maintaining our intensity for the full 80 minutes in order to compete with such a quality opponent," said Willmore. "The girls did an outstanding job of executing that plan and put themselves in a position to earn the victory."

Franklin County made its biggest push immediately after halftime, controlling much of the opening 5-10 minutes of the second half. Warren County absorbed the pressure without surrendering a goal before settling back into the match.

From there, neither side gave an inch.

The final 30 minutes turned into a back-and-forth battle with both teams generating opportunities but neither finding the finishing touch. Warren County was actually breaking toward goal as the final seconds disappeared, but possession was lost as time expired with the match still scoreless.

Simpson's heroics capped another outstanding defensive performance for a Warren County team that has responded emphatically since its lone loss at Riverdale. The Lady Pioneers have now won three straight, allowing only one goal during that stretch.

Warren County will have little time to come down from Tuesday's emotional victory. The Lady Pioneers return home Thursday for a non-district matchup with Tullahoma at 6:30 p.m.