Oak Ridge Today

Soccer: Wildcats have young, winning team

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The 2018 Oak Ridge Wildcats boys soccer team is pictured above. (Submitted photo via Tom Gorman)

The 2018 Oak Ridge Wildcats boys soccer team is pictured above. (Submitted photo via Tom Gorman)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats boys soccer team lost 11 seniors last year, but this year’s young team has a winning 6-2-2 record, Coach Tom Gorman said Tuesday.

Gorman said he has been pleased with the team’s growth. The Wildcats have three seniors and 11 juniors, and only three starters returned from last year.

Despite that turnover, though, the boys have had district wins over Powell and Campbell County, and they will play district games at Halls on Tuesday and at home against Karns on Friday next week. If they win those two district games, they would be the top seed, which would get them through the district championship and into the regional tournament semifinal.

Gorman, who is coaching both boys and girls soccer this year, previously coached the girls team from 2010-2013. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge travels to Science Hill after Region 2 championship loss

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Oak Ridge will travel to Science Hill for a Class AAA sectional on Saturday after losing to Farragut in the Region 2-AAA championship game at home on Thursday, May 18, 2017. Pictured above is junior midfielder Casey Nigh (12). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge will travel to Science Hill for a Class AAA sectional on Saturday after losing to Farragut in the Region 2-AAA championship game at home on Thursday, May 18, 2017. Pictured above is junior midfielder Casey Nigh (12). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11 a.m. May 19.

Oak Ridge will travel to Science Hill for a Class AAA sectional on Saturday after losing to Farragut in the Region 2-AAA championship game at home on Thursday.

The Admirals beat the Wildcats 2-1 at the Pro2Serve Oak Ridge Soccer Complex at Oak Ridge High School.

Science Hill, in Johnson City, was the the Region 1-AAA champion. The Hilltoppers beat Dobyns-Bennett of Kingsport 3-0 in the Region 1 championship on Thursday.

The winner of Saturday’s sectional game between Oak Ridge and Science Hill will advance to the state Class AAA soccer tournament. The season will be over for the loser. [Read more…]

Soccer: Vinyard scores four as Wildcats advance to district championship

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Oak-Ridge-Austin-Vinyard-Goal-Halls-Soccer-May-10-2017-Slider

Oak Ridge senior forward Austin Vinyard (9), left, scored four goals and had one assist as the Wildcats advanced to the District 3-AAA soccer championship with a 6-0 win over Halls on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge senior forward Austin Vinyard scored four goals and had one assist as the Wildcats advanced to the District 3-AAA soccer championship with a 6-0 semifinal win over Halls on Wednesday.

Vinyard, who signed to play soccer at Maryville College on Thursday, said he also had four goals in a game last season, but his four goals and an assist on Wednesday may be a career high.

Oak Ridge, the number one seed, will play Central, the number two seed, in the District 3-AAA championship game, which starts at 7 p.m. today (Friday, May 12) at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex at Oak Ridge High School.

The Wildcats were undefeated in the district during the regular season, and they beat the Bobcats 2-1 on Monday, April 24. Central’s only district loss during the regular season was to Oak Ridge, according to records posted on CoachT.com.

Central advanced to the District 3-AAA championship with a 4-0 win over Powell on Wednesday. Oak Ridge and Central will both advance to the Region 2-AAA championship. [Read more…]

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge-Powell

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Oak Ridge freshman 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 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)

 

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.

The Wildcats boys’ soccer team has two district games remaining. The first is at Central on Monday, April 24, and the second is at Campbell County at 6 p.m. May 1.

Oak Ridge plays Hardin Valley Academy at home in a rescheduled non-district game that starts at 7 p.m. today (Friday, April 21).

Here are photos from an April 11 game against Powell at home at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge wins Taxslayer Border Classic soccer tournament

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats won the championship game 1-0 over Lowndes High School from Valdosta, Georgia, during the Taxslayer Border Classic Soccer Invitational in Augusta, Georgia, on Saturday, March 18, 2017. (Photo submitted by Cathy Lawless)

The Oak Ridge Wildcats won the championship game 1-0 over Lowndes High School from Valdosta, Georgia, during the Taxslayer Border Classic Soccer Invitational in Augusta, Georgia, on Saturday, March 18, 2017. (Photo submitted by Cathy Lawless)

 

By Jeff Trombly

The Oak Ridge Wildcats traveled to Augusta, Georgia, this past week to participate in the Taxslayer Border Classic Soccer Invitational hosted by Greenbrier High School.

The 36-team tournament was held over three days and included teams from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Oak Ridge High School was the only team from Tennessee in this year’s tournament.

The Wildcats won their first match against a very talented Walton High School team from suburban Atlanta 4-3 in a penalty kick tie-breaker. There was a 1-1 draw during regular time, when Carson McGhee scored for Oak Ridge. McGhee, a junior, scored when he slammed home a rebound from a corner kick by senior Austin Vinyard.

Oak Ridge junior goalkeeper Austyn Lincoln saved two Walton penalty kicks in the tie-breaker to lead the Wildcats to victory. [Read more…]

Wildcats win district championship

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Oak Ridge freshman John Belbeck (22) tries to evade Halls players during a 10-2 district championship win at home on Friday, May 13, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:30 p.m. May 14.

Oak Ridge won the District 3-AAA championship with a 10-2 victory over Halls at home on Friday.

The Wildcats (13-7) advance to play the loser of Saturday’s District 4-AAA championship game between Bearden and Maryville. The District 4 runner-up will come to Oak Ridge to play in a Region 2-AAA semifinal game on Tuesday.

The Red Devils (10-7), the District 3 runner-up, advance to play the winner of the Bearden-Maryville District 4 championship game.

It was the second time Oak Ridge played Halls this year, and the win was more lopsided this time. The Wildcats, who finished the season undefeated in the district with a 7-0 record, won the first game against the Red Devils, a regular season game, 4-1 on April 7.

“I think we’re a different team now,” Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly said.

Halls finished the regular season second in the district with a 6-2 record. [Read more…]

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge-Karns

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Oak Ridge senior forward Matt Warmbrod dribbles upfield during a 6-0 win over Karns at home on Thursday, April 21, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats, who remain undefeated in the district, had two good wins last week against Hardin Valley and Karns. They have one district game remaining; that’s against Clinton at home on Friday, April 29, which is Senior Night.

Here are pictures from the Wildcats’ 6-0 win over Karns on Thursday, April 21.

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Oak Ridge junior forward Austin Vinyard battles Karns during a 6-0 win over the Beavers at home on Thursday, April 21, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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Oak Ridge senior forward Jose Rodriguez (11) shoots a penalty kick during a 6-0 win over Karns on Thursday, April 21, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

[Read more…]