Oak Ridge senior forward Austin Vinyard (9), battling Daniel Van Buren (25) of Powell here, scored two goals against the Panthers in a 6-0 win at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Pictured at right is freshman forward Warren Stetzel (23). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
With two district games remaining, the Oak Ridge Wildcats are undefeated in District 3-AAA. The Wildcats improved to 8-3-2 overall at Karns on Thursday and to 6-0 in District 3-AAA.
Oak Ridge defeated Karns 4-1 on Thursday and, in their previous district game, beat Powell at home 6-0 on Tuesday, April 11.
The two remaining district games are at Central on Monday, April 24, and at Campbell County at 6 p.m. Monday, May 1.
In the meantime, Oak Ridge plays Hardin Valley Academy at home in a rescheduled non-district game that starts at 7 p.m. today (Friday, April 21).
Oak Ridge senior forward Austin Vinyard scored two unassisted goals in the first half against Powell on April 11. Freshman forward Jonathan Rodriguez scored two in the second half.
Also scoring during the first half of that game were senior forward Masa Kato and senior defender Dean Stetzel, with an assist by senior defender Ricky Rodriguez. The first Vinyard goal and the Stetzel goal were both in the first 10 minutes of the game.
Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly said the Wildcats are a faster team than the Panthers and probably more experienced than the young Panthers team.
Trombly briefly discussed the Smoky Mountain Cup soccer tournament in Gatlinburg earlier this month. After losing to Dobyns-Bennett 3-1 in last year’s Class AAA sectional, Oak Ridge beat the Indians in the Smoky Mountain Cup 4-2 on April 8 this year. But the Wildcats lost to Brentwood 3-0 in the second game and then lost 1-0 to Bartlett of Memphis.
It was a good learning experience, Trombly said. The Wildcats played teams from different parts of the state, helping to prepare them for the state tournament if they make it.
Vinyard scored two more goals on Thursday at Karns. He also had an assist to sophomore forward Christian Avila, who scored that one goal and had three assists: two to Vinyard and one to Rodriguez, who scored one goal.
Other district wins this season have been at Halls (7-1 on March 23), at Anderson County (6-3 on March 28), at Clinton (5-0 on March 31), and at home against Gibbs (5-0 on April 4).
Oak Ridge freshman forward Jonathan Rodriguez (11) scored two goals in the second half of a 6-0 win over Powell at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Oak Ridge senior forward Masa Kato (5) scored one goal in the first half of a 6-0 win over Powell at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Oak Ridge junior midfielder Casey Nigh (12) passes during a 6-0 win over Powell at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Oak Ridge sophomore midfielder Nathan Kidder (19) tries to keep the soccer ball away from Powell during a 6-0 win over the Panthers at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
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