Lady Pioneers take down Tullahoma
Senior captain Addison Steakley was part of an offense that wouldn’t quit until it found the back of the net against Tullahoma Thursday night.
The Lady Pioneers don't even need a slingshot to be giant killers. Warren County has been taking down some of the state's best with something much simpler - sheer will.
In a span of three nights, Warren County knocked off two programs with some of the biggest recent accomplishments in Middle Tennessee soccer. Tuesday brought a dramatic road victory over Franklin County, the 2024 Class 2A state champion and Thursday, the Lady Pioneers turned their attention to Tullahoma, a 20-game winner and Class 2A state runner-up a year ago.
Another giant fell.
Emory MacDonald broke a scoreless tie with just under seven minutes to play, scoring only minutes after freshman Kacey Mitchell made a sensational defensive stop as Warren County stunned previously unbeaten Tullahoma 1-0 at home.
The victory moved the Lady Pioneers to 5-1 overall and extended their winning streak to four. Tullahoma entered Thursday 5-0 according to MaxPreps and had surrendered just one goal all season before MacDonald finally cracked the Wildcats' defense.
"It's just the overall effort and intensity, something we've really focused on the last week, 10 days," said coach Todd Willmore about what has been the different for Warren County. "They brought that against Franklin County Tuesday night and they did the same thing tonight.
“We played two teams that, as far as technical skills top to bottom, were better than we were. But our girls just have a heart and will not quit playing. They just play hard from start to finish and it keeps us competitive, keeps us in matches."
Everybody was hanging on the edge Thursday as the scoreless battle stretched into the final moments. Every switch of the field felt like it could be game changing and every loss of possession felt devastating.
As players started running on fumes on a muggy night at the WCHS soccer field, it was going to take an extraordinary effort to break a scoreless tie.
MacDonald was ready to deliver it.
The Lady Pioneer coaching staff had been urging the team to use the whole field late in the second half and Warren County finally did it when it counted the most. A throw-in deep in the Tullahoma zone went straight into the box, where Gisell Escamilla battled two defenders trying to gain control.
In its haste to keep the ball away from the dangerous Lady Pioneer near the goal, Tullahoma cleared it to the other side, where MacDonald suddenly had a free run and an open look. She made it count.
MacDonald took a quick touch atop the 18-yard box before putting her left boot into the ball and sailing a shot past the keeper's outstretched arms and into the bottom-right corner.
It was the type of play Willmore has been waiting to see as Warren County continues to learn how to stretch defenses and take advantage of the entire field.
"It seems now to be clicking just a bit," said Willmore. "I realize it's only September, early September, but if we can continue to improve and just do the little things, that's what we got to do. We gotta take care of little things. We do that, we're competitive."
MacDonald's goal would've been the equalizer instead of the game-winner if not for Mitchell just a few minutes earlier.
Tullahoma had its best chance to score when Warren County misplayed a long ball and suddenly gave up what looked like a clear run toward goal. Mitchell came flying back into the play and broke up the attack before the Wildcats could get a clean shot at freshman phenom Kinsley Simpson in the goal.
It was another example of what has become indicative of the Lady Pioneer defense all season. When somebody gets beat, somebody else seems to be there.
Senior captain Maci McBride said that trust in each other has become a major part of the unit's success.
"Honestly, each other," said McBride when asked what drives the defense. "We just have to pump each other up and get back and don't give up and use our bodies for sure. I think we're pretty good about that."
McBride had plenty of praise for Mitchell after watching the freshman erase one of Tullahoma's best opportunities of the night.
"I am extremely proud of her," said McBride. "She's a freshman that's showing her way through and I think she's definitely going to continue to get better as years goes on and I'm just so proud of her."
Willmore isn't surprised Mitchell has been able to make an immediate impact. He watched her develop last season at WCMS and already knew the freshman possessed the instincts to play at the varsity level.
"I knew last year when she played for Sally at the middle school, she was just a lockdown defender," said Willmore. "I was just thinking it's gonna be hard to keep her off the field. She's just so smart and understands the game. She's got good soccer sense."
Mitchell is only one part of a defensive group that has quickly become the backbone of Warren County's hot start.
McBride, Mitchell, Addisyn Watson and Summer Wanamaker have formed a stingy back line with Ashlyn Bailey providing support in the holding midfield and Simpson emerging as a difference maker in goal.
Thursday was Warren County's third shutout during its current four-game winning streak. The Lady Pioneers have surrendered only one goal during that span.
McBride, who has returned to full strength after a knee issue caused her to miss time earlier in the season, is enjoying what the Lady Pioneers have accomplished during the streak. She pointed specifically to victories over Lincoln County, Franklin County and Tullahoma as meaningful wins against programs Warren County hasn't had much recent success against.
None came easily. And Warren County doesn’t expect it to any different every time the girls lace up their cleats. They’ll embrace the grind and excel.
"They play hard from start to finish and it keeps us competitive, keeps us in matches," said Willmore.
Warren County rest easy this weekend after developing a love for dramatic endings. Action kicks back off next Tuesday, Sept. 8 at home against Coffee County. The game will begin at 6 p.m.
