WCHS Athlete of the Week

Noelle Bratcher picked a good week to find another gear.

The junior midfielder was at the center of a big week for the WCHS girls soccer team, piling up four goals and an assist while helping the Lady Pioneers win both of their matches and improve to 3-1 overall. That standout stretch earned Bratcher the Main Street Journal’s Reddick Brown Ford WCHS Athlete of the Week award for Aug. 23-29.

Bratcher contributed in both Lady Pioneer victories, scoring once in Tuesday’s shutout of Smyrna before erupting for her first hat trick of the season in Thursday’s District 9-3A opener at Lincoln County. The scoring surge moved her into the team lead with four goals through Warren County’s first four matches.

Bratcher got started Tuesday when the Lady Pioneers returned home looking to respond to their first loss of the season. Warren County wasted little time taking control against Smyrna, scoring three times in the opening half on its way to a 4-0 shutout.

Bratcher provided the second of those goals, using a hesitation move just outside the 18-yard box to work around the Lady Bulldog defense before firing home a shot in the 24th minute. She joined Addison Steakley, Giselle Escamilla and Isabella Rodriguez as four different Lady Pioneers to score in the victory while also recording an assist.

Two nights later, Bratcher took her scoring to another level when Warren County traveled to Fayetteville for its District 9-3A opener against Lincoln County.

She put the Lady Pioneers ahead approximately nine minutes into the match, taking a pass from Steakley and beating the Lincoln County keeper for a 1-0 lead. After the Lady Falcons pulled even, Bratcher struck again with less than 10 minutes remaining before halftime, cleaning up the rebound after an Emory MacDonald shot hit the crossbar to send WCHS into the break ahead 2-1.

Bratcher finished off the hat trick in the second half, adding an insurance goal as Warren County pulled away for a 3-1 victory.

“Noelle could have possibly added a couple more,” Coach Todd Willmore said following Thursday’s win over the Lady Falcons. “It was a great offensive performance and a tremendous night for her.”

Through the opening stretch of the season, Bratcher has established herself as a consistent threat in the Lady Pioneer attack. Her standout week was the latest example, earning the junior midfielder Main Street Journal WCHS Athlete of the Week honors.