Lady Pioneers make statement, shut out Smyrna
Noelle Bratcher strikes for an early goal in a 4-0 shutout for the Lady Pioneers Tuesday night.
With a weekend to stew, the Lady Pioneers attacked Tuesday night like a team less interested in a bounce-back win and more ready to make a statement. The Smyrna Bulldogs just picked the wrong night to be in Warren County.
Led by an offense in attack mode from the opening whistle, the Lady Pioneers throttled Smyrna 4-0 at home to improve to 2-1 this season. Warren County got first-half goals from Addison Steakley, Noelle Bratcher and Gisell Escamilla, then a late goal from Izzy Rodriguez to punctuate a big win at home.
Coach Todd Willmore knew his team would be more assertive Tuesday night, especially after coming home from a 4-1 loss at Riverdale last week. A bit healthier with senior Maci McBride back in uniform and ready to prove the loss to the Lady Warriors was behind them, the Lady Pioneers didn't waste time getting to work.
Steakley, like she's been for the last two seasons, was the steady presence who got the team settled quickly. She burst through the Bulldog defense early in the match, smashing a shot into the back of the net to put the Lady Pioneers on the board.
It began an avalanche of shots from Warren County as the Lady Pioneers were relentless in keeping the ball in the Bulldog end throughout the first half.
Bratcher was the beneficiary of the all-out attack later in the half, moving near the top of the 18-yard box on a pass centered into the middle and showing off her big leg on a boot that flew upper 90 to put the Lady Pioneers up 2-0.
An unusual set of circumstances nearly added to Warren County's lead midway through the first half, but confusion wiped away a would-be goal.
Smyrna was called for a penalty after trying to dribble out on a goal kick, leaving the Lady Pioneers with a rare indirect kick from inside the box. Warren County slammed its first touch through seven Bulldogs huddled together trying to protect the goal, but the goal wasn't allowed because the Lady Pioneers couldn't score until the second touch off the indirect kick.
The Lady Pioneers just found a different way to score instead.
Steakley showed off her fancy footwork to help make it 3-0 right before halftime. Battling with a Bulldog near the endline, Steakley flipped the ball back between her legs, circled around the unsuspecting defender trying to push her out of the box and put a pass on the money to Escamilla.
Escamilla took the pass off her stomach and down to her foot, wasting no time drilling a shot past the keeper to make it 3-0 with 3:11 remaining in the first half.
The Lady Pioneers stayed in celebration mode during Tuesday’s home shutout.
Freshman Kinsley Simpson, who recorded her first career shutout Tuesday, wasn't tested much, but she was up to the task when Smyrna got a rare chance. The Bulldogs' best attack came with 13 minutes left in the first half when an opening formed and a shot was sent sailing toward the top of the Lady Pioneer goal.
At the last second, Simpson rose up and punched the ball over the goal, keeping the Bulldogs off the board.
It would be the last time Smyrna threatened.
Warren County's scoring opportunities waned some in the second half, but the team's control of possession was as dominant as ever. With the Lady Pioneers working the ball side-to-side to keep Smyrna on its toes, Rodriguez was able to sneak into the middle of the field unmarked midway through the second half and provide the final goal.
The Lady Pioneers can now try to ride the wave of momentum from the shutout into Thursday's district opener at Lincoln County. Warren County enters district play 2-1 overall with kickoff against the Falcons set for 6:30 p.m.
