Pioneers cruise

to 6-0 win
By Bryan Lail
Special to the Democrat

Watauga’s girls’ soccer coach Doug Kidd could be heard form the sideline yelling “push it” several times during the Pioneers’ Northwestern 4-A Conference game with Alexander Central Tuesday night at Jack Groce Stadium.

Kidd also was urging his players to a strong finish, and finish strong they did. Watauga never took the pressure off the Cougars throughout the game in a 6-0 victory. It was the Pioneers’ fourth straight win.

The Pioneers (5-3, 2-2 NWC) outhustled the Cougars (6-2-1, 2-1) throughout, allowing them to maintain steady offensive ball control. Combined with smart play and good ball placement, the Cougars were left with no answer for the Pioneers’ relentless attack.

Anna Lisa Hart, Layla Jones, Caitlyn Soukup and Ashlyn Baird scored goals in the first half, giving the Pioneers a 4-0 lead.

The Cougars showed no sign of giving up late in the game by fighting off eight of the 10 shot attempts in which Watauga posted in the second half alone. The Pioneers led 4-0 by halftime and 6-0 just 15 minutes into the second half.

A well placed kick by Austin Williamson from center field helped to set up Johnson’s assist to Jodi Krause, giving the Pioneers a 5-0 lead.

A foul on Alexander Central would lead to a penalty kick for Lucy Binning. A ball which at first appeared to be easily handled by Alexander Central at the goal, instead ended up bobbled by the Cougars’ goal keeper, which rolled just inside the net for the final score of the game.

Watauga held Alexander Central to only one scoring attempt in the second half of play, an unsuccessful corner kick.

Quick footwork and resilience were the story of the day, such as displayed by defender Ashlyn Clark’s single-handed cross up of three Cougar defenders to disrupt a second half Cougars advance.

Tiffany Dickens also showed some elusiveness in splitting three defenders of her own, setting up a corner kick late in the game.

The Pioneers have now only allowed one goal in their last four games, winning all four in their steady march towards division leading McDowell and annual powerhouse A.C. Reynolds atop the NWC standings.

The Pioneers host non-conference Wilkes Central at 6:30 p.m.

Boy’s tennis
Watauga lost 7-2 to Hickory in prep tennis Tuesday. Steve Lake provided the Pioneers with a win in singles, and then teamed with Graham Battle to win at No. 1 doubles.