Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge soccer season again ends in Tri-Cities, this time at Dobyns-Bennett

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Oak Ridge Robinson Dobyns-Bennett May 21 2016

Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6) heads the soccer ball during a 3-1 loss to Dobyns-Bennett in a Class AAA sectional in Kingsport on Saturday, May 21, 2016. (Photo credit: Allen Greene/TriCitiesSports.com)

 

KINGSPORT, Tenn.—Oak Ridge saw its season end for the second straight year in the Tri-Cities, this time on the pitch at Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett’s Indian Highland Park.

Last year, the Wildcats (14-9) fell 3-1 at Johnson City Science Hill, and they fell Saturday by the same result to the Indians (20-1-1), who advance for the first time in a quarter century to the TSSAA state tournament. Oak Ridge last made it to the state tournament in 2008.

“The match was not a piece of art at all,” Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly said. “It was a pretty scrappy affair.”

Dobyns-Bennett was keen on possessing the ball and hoping for a defensive breakdown in its game plan. [Read more…]

Soccer photos II: Oak Ridge-Bearden in Region 2-AAA championship

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Oak Ridge senior defender Blake Clowers (3) scored the one goal for the Wildcats during a 4-1 loss at Bearden in the Region 2-AAA championship on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Also pictured are Bearden senior Kelvin Garcia (10) and Oak Ridge senior Matt Warmbrod (5). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up at Bearden on Thursday, and the Wildcats play Dobyns-Bennett in a sectional soccer game in Kingsport this afternoon (Saturday, May 21). Here are more photos from Thursday’s game.

The winner of today’s game will advance to the Class AAA state tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

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Bearden senior Jameson Elmore (21) goes for a shot during a 4-1 win over Oak Ridge at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Also pictured from left are Oak Ridge senior goalkeeper Joel Turner, junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6), and senior defender Blake Clowers (3). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6), at right), heads the ball past Bearden senior Gabe Alvarez during a 4-1 loss for the Wildats at Bearden in the Region 2-AAA championship on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/oak Ridge Today)

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Soccer photos I: Oak Ridge-Bearden in Region 2-AAA championship

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Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6) and Bearden senior Jameson Elmore (21), who had an assist on the Bulldogs’ first goal, go for a header during the Region 2-AAA championship game at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up at Bearden on Thursday, and the Wildcats play Dobyns-Bennett in a sectional soccer game in Kingsport this afternoon (Saturday, May 21). Here are photos from Thursday’s game.

The winner of today’s game will advance to the Class AAA state tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

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Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6) and Bearden senior Gabe Alvarez (33), who scored two goals, battle for the soccer ball during a 4-1 win for the Bulldogs at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Behind Alvarez is Bearden senior Spencer Smiley (7), who also scored two goals. Oak Ridge senior Blake Clowers (3), right, had the one goal for Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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Bearden kept Oak Ridge senior goalkeeper Joel Turner busy, peppering him with 31 shots, with 18 of those on goal during a 4-1 win for the Bulldogs in the Region 2-AAA championship at Bearden on Thursday afternoon, May 19, 2016. Turner makes the save here against Bearden senior Spencer Smiley, who scored two goals for the Bulldogs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

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Soccer: Wildcats finish as Region 2 runner-up, play Dobyns-Bennett this afternoon

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Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6) and Bearden senior Gabe Alvarez (33), who scored two goals, battle for the soccer ball during a 4-1 win for the Bulldogs at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up at Bearden on Thursday, and the Wildcats play Dobyns-Bennett in a sectional soccer game in Kingsport this afternoon (Saturday, May 21). The winner of that game will advance to the Class AAA state tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

The Wildcats (14-8) lost to the Bulldogs 4-1 at Bearden on Thursday. Oak Ridge senior goalkeeper Joel Turner was busy the entire game, trying to keep a steady stream of Bearden shots out of the net. The Bulldogs finished with 31 shots, or about one shot every 2.5 minutes. Eighteen of those shots were on goal.

Bearden (19-3) scored in quick back-to-back goals less than three minutes apart late in the first half and about 30 seconds apart late in the second.

Oak Ridge scored its only goal with 1:14 remaining on a penalty kick by senior defender Blake Clowers.

Bearden seniors Spencer Smiley and Gabe Alvarez had two goals each for the Bulldogs. [Read more…]

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge, Maryville in Region 2 semifinal

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Oak Ridge junior forward Austin Vinyard (9) had the corner kick that led to a Blake Clowers header for the game-winning goal during a 2-1 win over Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Oak Ridge eliminated Maryville 2-1 in a Region 2-AAA semifinal game at home on Tuesday. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

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Oak Ridge senior forward Jose Rodriguez (11) scored the first goal for the Wildcats during a 2-1 win over Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

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Oak Ridge scored its winning goal off a header by senior defender Blake Clowers that followed a corner kick by junior forward Austin Vinyard (9) during a 2-1 Region 2-AAA semifinal victory over Maryville at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

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Wildcats eliminate Maryville, move on to Region 2 championship

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Oak Ridge senior defender Blake Clowers (3), pictured here in front of Maryville senior Luke Orren (11), scores the winning goal on a header off a corner kick by senior forward Austin Vinyard in a 2-1 Region 2-AAA semifinal win for the Wildcats at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:35 a.m.

Oak Ridge eliminated Maryville 2-1 in a Region 2-AAA semifinal game at home on Tuesday, and the Wildcats advance to play at Bearden in the region championship on Thursday.

Oak Ridge scored the winning goal on a header by senior defender Blake Clowers off a corner kick by junior forward Austin Vinyard with 8:21 remaining in the playoff elimination game.

The Wildcats are guaranteed two more games: the Region 2-AAA championship and a state sectional. In the sectionals, the Region 1 champion plays the Region 2 runner-up, and the Region 2 champion plays the Region 1 runner-up.

The Region 2 championship game will start at 4 p.m. Thursday at Bearden High School in Knoxville. The sectionals are Saturday.

The Region 1 championship between Sevier County and Dobyns-Bennett starts at 6 p.m. Thursday in Sevierville.

[Read more…]

In rematch, Wildcats play Maryville in Region 2 semifinal today

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Oak Ridge senior defender Blake Clowers (3) scored the one goal for the Wildcats during a 4-1 loss to Maryville at home on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

They last played two weeks ago during the regular season, and Oak Ridge and Maryville will play again tonight (Tuesday, May 17) in a Region 2-AAA semifinal.

The game starts at 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge High School.

The Rebels beat the Wildcats 4-1 in a regular-season game on Tuesday, May 3.

But it was a tale of two halves, and Oak Ridge (13-7) won the second half, Wildcats Coach Jeff Trombly said. Maryville (13-5-2) picked up all its scoring, all four goals, in the first half. They were scoreless in the second, when the Wildcats scored one.

“The score was not as lopsided as it looks,” Maryville Coach Steve Feather said. [Read more…]

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge and Halls

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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)

 

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

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Oak Ridge sophomore forward Carson McGhee (15) dribbles the ball during a 10-2 district championship win over Halls at home on Friday, May 13, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

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Soccer photos: Oak Ridge-Clinton

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Oak Ridge junior Austin Vinyard (9) looks for a pass during a 3-0 win over Clinton at home on Friday, April 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

For the second year in a row, the Oak Ridge Wildcats were undefeated in the district in regular season soccer games. They won their last district game of the regular season on Friday, April 29, beating Clinton 3-0 at home.

Here are pictures from the game.

Oak Ridge (11-5, 7-0) has two non-district games remaining, one against Maryville at home tonight (Tuesday, May 3) and the second at Farragut on Thursday, May 5.

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Oak Ridge senior Matt Warmbrod (5), who scored two goals, passes through the legs of a Clinton defender during a 3-0 win over the Dragons at home on Friday, April 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

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Wildcats again undefeated in district, play Maryville tonight

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Oak Ridge junior defender Stefan Mortl (2) dribbles against Clinton during a 3-0 win for the Wildcats at home on Friday, April 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

For the second year in a row, the Oak Ridge Wildcats were undefeated in the district in regular season soccer games. It’s the third time in the past four years that the Wildcats were undefeated in District 3-AAA during the regular season.

But the regular season isn’t over yet. Oak Ridge (11-5, 7-0) has two non-district games remaining, one against Maryville at home tonight (Tuesday, May 3) and the second at Farragut on Thursday, May 5.

Players and Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly have said those final two games are a good prelude to the competition that the Wildcats could face in the post-season, particularly the Region 2-AAA tournament.

Oak Ridge got its seventh district win this year at home against Clinton (6-4, 1-1) on Friday, April 29. The Wildcats outshot the Dragons 36-3 in that 3-0 win. [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)

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Undefeated in district, Wildcats beat HVA, Karns; Senior Night is Friday

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Oak Ridge senior forward Jose Rodriguez (11) challenges two Karns defenders during a 6-0 win for the Wildcats 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, which is Senior Night.

As the regular season comes to an end, the Wildcats (10-5, 7-0 District 3-AAA) also still face Maryville and Farragut. Both games are expected to be challenging.

The Oak Ridge-Hardin Valley game on Tuesday, April 19, was very tough, Coach Jeff Trombly said. Senior goalkeeper Joel Turner went out with a concussion in the first half after being kicked in the head, and he can’t play for at least two weeks, Trombly said.

Sophomore Austyn Lincoln, the backup goalkeeper, finished that 2-0 win for the Wildcats. [Read more…]