Kinsley Simpson, pictured in a previous home game, came up clutch again during a PK shootout Thursday night.
Kinsley Simpson has been there before - Scoreless after 80 minutes, a district opponent assembling at midfield and five shots from the penalty spot potentially deciding the night.
And once again, Warren County's freshman keeper delivered.
Simpson made two saves in a penalty-kick shootout Wednesday night and Gisell Escamilla, Noelle Bratcher and Maci McBride converted their attempts as the Lady Pioneers survived a battle with Columbia, winning the shootout 3-2 after the teams finished regulation tied 0-0.
It was Warren County's second shootout victory in district play this season and improved the Lady Pioneers to 9-2-1 overall.
"I cannot emphasize enough how gritty and resilient our girls have been, especially last night," said coach Todd Willmore. "They faced a quality Columbia team and battled hard from start to finish."
There was little separating the teams throughout regulation. The first half turned into a back-and-forth battle with Warren County and Columbia both creating quality opportunities, but neither could find the finishing touch. When Columbia did break through the Lady Pioneer defense, Simpson was waiting.
The freshman made several key saves to keep the match scoreless and give Warren County time to find an answer offensively.
The second half followed much of the same script. Warren County began building momentum with approximately 15 minutes remaining and generated several late opportunities, but couldn't break through. Columbia couldn't either.
The final whistle sounded with the scoreboard still showing 0-0. For Warren County, that meant familiar territory.
District matches can't finish in a tie, sending the Lady Pioneers directly to penalty kicks for the second time this season. Warren County's first trip to the spot came Sept. 1 at Franklin County, where Simpson made the decisive save in sudden death to finish another scoreless battle.
This time, the Lady Pioneers didn't need sudden death.
Escamilla, Bratcher and McBride calmly converted Warren County's three successful attempts. At the other end, Simpson turned away two Columbia shots and nearly got to another.
Columbia converted twice, but its final attempt sailed wide left. That was all Warren County needed.
"Our girls and fans erupted - What an exciting finish to an incredibly competitive match," said Willmore.
Simpson's shootout performance only added to what has been an impressive freshman season in goal. Both of Warren County's district shootout victories have followed 80 scoreless minutes, meaning the Lady Pioneers have asked their young keeper to protect a clean sheet through regulation and then immediately step into the spotlight with the match on the line.
Twice, she's answered.
Wednesday's clean sheet was also Warren County's sixth of the season. The Lady Pioneer defense has repeatedly given the team opportunities to win even when goals have been difficult to find, and Columbia became the latest opponent unable to break through.
"I couldn't be prouder of the fight, determination and resilience our girls showed throughout the entire night," said Willmore. "They never gave up, battled for one another and found a way to get the job done."
When the margin gets tight, Warren County hasn't blinked. Neither has its freshman keeper.
