Things looked promising for Watauga’s boys’ soccer team. The Pioneers held a one-goal lead at halftime against a good Greensboro Grimsley team in the second round of the state 4-A playoffs.

However, Grimsley tied the game early in the second half and got the game-winner with seven seconds left, allowing the Whirlies to claim a 2-1 victory at Jack Groce Stadium on a crisp Saturday night. Watauga, the Northwestern 4-A Conference champion, saw its season end with a 15-7-2 record.

“They are a very good team,” Watauga coach Doug Kidd said. “Technically, they were very sound and their attack was dangerous. I thought we played with them and that gave us an opportunity to win the game with our level of play, especially in the first half.”

Watauga took a 1-0 lead on a goal 25 minutes into the game on unassisted goal by David Fisher, who scored his 15th goal of the season. The goal gave the Pioneers a 1-0 halftime lead.

But that lead did not last. Grimsley’s Michael Gehrke scored on a header five minutes into the second half. Gehrke scored again with seven minutes left to give the Whirlies a 2-1 lead. Kidd said Watauga keeper Jonathan Shine also made sure that lead did not grow.

“Jonathan Shine had a great game. He made some big saves to keep us in it,” Kidd said.
Despite the setback, Kidd liked the effort his team showed.

“Up until halftime, we played a good game,” Kidd said. “In the second half, we didn’t execute technically or tactically as well.”

Watauga had another chance to score in the first half during a scoreless tie. Luke Robertson broke free on the Watauga right side and launched a pass toward Fisher. However, Fisher’s header went just wide of the goal post.

The Pioneers lose 10 seniors, but return 13 players, including five starters, to the roster.