As 2018 draws to a close, Thunder Radio Sports looks back at some of the highlights of the calendar year for each of the more than 40 prep teams we follow and report on. Today we look back at some of the highlights of year for the boys’ soccer teams at Coffee County CHS and Coffee County and Westwood middle schools.
The highlight of the year had to be the exciting conference championship won by the Westwood Rockets on penalty kicks. Thunder Radio was on hand to bring you the story, including video of the championship winning kick, in a story we published on April 23rd:
2018 Westwood Rockets soccer team with their CTSC trophy
Dynasty!
For the 4th year in a row, the Westwood Middle School soccer team claimed the Central Tennessee Soccer Conference title. The Rockets nailed down the iconic feat with a thrilling 1 to 0 decision over St. Andrews-Sewanee on Saturday at Dyer-Bouldin Field in a match that was decided by a shootout.
After a scoreless 60 minutes of regulation soccer, the two teams battled through a 10 minutes of extra time without a score. Westwood controlled possession in extra time but were unable to get a quality shot on frame as 5 shot attempts sailed high or wide.
In the penalty kick round, the Rockets’ John Martinez, Keiton Sherrill, Nico Sanfilipo and Kevin Perigrino all nailed their shots; matched by the first 4 shooters of the Mountain Lions. In the 5th round, the St. Andrews’ kicker missed in his attempt to go high left leaving the match and the title on Tucker Brown’s foot. Brown bent a shot to the low left past the diving Lions’ keeper for the win.
Check out the game-winning shot in a video HERE
The Coffee County Middle School soccer team enjoyed a resurgence of fortunes in 2018 with a young roster and a pair of new coaches. One of the highlights for the young Raiders was a dominant conference win over North Franklin on April 3rd. Thunder Radio reported on the win with the following story:
Javier Rodriquez of CCMS soccer
The Coffee County Middle School soccer team welcomed North Franklin to CCMS on Tuesday. Having not played since March 15th, the Red Raiders were able to shake off a brutal loss in their last game. The Raiders used five 1st half goals to roll to a 7 to 2 conference win.
Two goals in the first 10 minutes allowed the Raiders to get control of the match early. Coffee Middle added 3 more 1st half goals to lead 5 nil at intermission. The teams traded a pair of goals each in the 2nd half. Javier Rodriquez scored 4 goals, Reuben Alvarez and Jamie Norris each added a single goal and Coffee County also got the benefit of an own goal by North Franklin. Coffee County also won the JV game 4 to 0 as Norris added 3 goals and Alex Prater added the other goal. The win evens the Raiders conference record at 2 and 2.
Coffee County is back in action on Friday when they open play in the Red Raider Invitational at the Raider Academy. The Raiders open play at 5 PM as they will take on Prescott Middle. That game will take place on the football field at Carden-Jarrell Field.
2018 CHS Soccer seniors being recognized on Senior Night. [Photo by Pascale Randolph]
Celebrating Senior Night on Friday, the Coffee County Red Raider soccer teamed scored early and often as they mauled Fayetteville. Celebrating the careers of 7 seniors, the Red Raiders made short work of the Tigers. Coffee County cruised to the 8 to 0 win.
The Raiders built a 3 to 0 halftime lead, beginning with a beautiful goal from a pair of seniors in the 11th minute. Ben Reid made a long run upfield from his defenders position to convert an assist from David Morales to make it 1 to 0. Senior Tyler Walker added a pair of goals, one off an assist from fellow senior Paco Barrera in the 28th minute and one off a Ben Reid free kick in the 29th.
In the second half, Briggs Haithcock tallied a goal in the 47th minute off a feed from senior Cameron Kistler. Senior Paco Barrera added an unassisted goal in the 48th minute. Walker drove home an assist from Kistler in the 59th minute to make it 6 to 0. Barrera added a goal in the 62nd from Walker and Matteo Meazzi notched a goal off a feed from Kistler to make it 8 to 0 in the 75th minute.
Coffee County will close out the regular season on Tuesday as they travel to Tullahoma for the annual Coffee Cup game. That match will kick off at 7 PM at Tullahoma’s East Middle School.
