Pioneers settle

for a 0-0 tie
From staff reports

ASHEVILLE — Watauga’s defense has emerged as one of the stingiest in the Northwestern 4-A Conference.

However, the Pioneers have struggled against the defenses of the two top teams in the NWC.

Watauga settled for its second straight 0-0 tie Friday at first-place A.C. Reynolds. One game earlier, the Pioneers tied second-place McDowell 0-0.

Those two ties left the Pioneers with a 9-4-2 record overall, 5-2-2 in the NWC. It would take a big collapse by A.C. Reynolds to allow Watauga to claim the NWC championship., The third-place Pioneers have three NWC games left, beginning with a home game Tuesday against East Burke.

The Pioneers also have a non-conference game at home against Ashe County Wednesday.

“We’re still in good shape,” Pioneers coach Doug Kidd said. “The league gets four automatic bids, so there’s still a lot of soccer to be played.”

Watauga’s defense has kept the Pioneers in their last four games by not giving up a goal. The Pioneers were outshot 18-8 by A.C. Reynolds, but Watauga keeper Sarah Caldwell made some big saves to keep the Rockets out of the Watauga goal.

“Our defense is doing a nice job,” Kidd said. “When the defense does break down, Sarah Caldwell has been phenomenal for us.”

Watauga had some scoring chances, but they were denied by the Rockets’ defense.

“They played really well,” Kidd said. “They’ve got good defenders and a good keeper. We tested them a few times, but it was just a great game.”