The landscape of Cherokee County HS Varsity Boys Soccer became a good deal brighter Tuesday evening, with the Warriors side winning out over the hosting Crossville Lions Soccer team. The March 17^th trip out to Sand Mountain was one of anticipation and a bit of uncertainty. But, the journey home was one filled with exhilaration and team pride for a victory rightly won. The Warriors defense held the Lions offense game score to only one goal, which was made in the first five minutes of play. (This is quite noteworthy, since the Lions scored eleven goals against the Warriors in their last match in Crossville back in the spring of 2014). CCHS Goalkeeper Matt Sewell, and his seasoned defensive backs, Eli Wolf, Nicholas Gonzales, Anthony Rocco and Ty Wofford held the Lions to that one goal the entire match after nine solid Lion attempts to get the ball past him and into the net. On offense, Midfielder James Sewell “threaded the needle” when he scored a penetrating goal from a direct Free Kick; past opposing stationed players and beyond the Lions keeper, then into the net. It was an amazingly placed kick from just outside the Lions’ Penalty Area and was easily a twenty yard shot on goal. The second Warriors goal came from a “gimme” ball kicked by a Lions player (into their own goal) who was under intense pressure from Warriors Forward, Shane Williams.

On their part, the Crossville Soccer side is known to field a fast attack machine and uses a “blitz” to penetrate their opponent’s defensive third of the field. The Warriors Defensive squad consistently stepped up to this Lions challenge and effectively neutralized their offensive.

Since taking the reins of the Cherokee County HS Boys Soccer program as head coach in 2013, Coach Matthew Pharr has been working diligently for two seasons to build the Warriors Soccer side into a group of young men that will work together as a team. When asked for his view on Tuesday night’s game against the Lions, he related the following:   “My boys came up BIG tonight and beat one of our rivals, Crossville, 2-1. We are above .500 for the first time in a LONG time. We were down 1-0 at half time and battled back to beat a team no one thought we could beat. Hats off to my boys!”

The Warriors Soccer side travels to Jacksonville High School for an AHSAA Area game against the Golden Eagles on Friday, March 20^th.

Article written by Barry Anderson