Warriors grind out 1-0 win on 8th Grade Night

The White County Middle School soccer team kept its momentum rolling Monday night, grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 win over Upperman to extend its winning streak to three games. In a match where chances were limited and every possession mattered, it only took one moment to decide the outcome.

That moment came off the foot of Brenam Sandlin.

With both defenses holding strong for most of the night, neither side found much room to operate in the attacking third. Upperman and White County each had their opportunities, but clean looks at goal were rare as the game settled into a physical, tightly contested battle.

Then came the breakthrough.

A defensive miscue by Upperman opened the door just enough, and Sandlin made them pay. He collected the loose ball and calmly slotted it past the keeper for what would stand as the game’s only goal.

From there, the Warriors leaned on their defense — and their keeper.

Logan Allen turned in a standout performance in goal, owning the box and shutting down Upperman’s attempts to find a way to tie the score. Allen refused to let the ball find the back of the net.

The win continues a strong stretch for White County following an earlier loss to Algood, with the team showing significant growth on the defensive side.

“I’m really proud of this team and the way they have responded defensively,” head coach Justin Rittenberry said. “Since the defeat to Algood we’ve conceded only 3 goals across 4 games, keeping 2 clean sheets, while scoring 13 goals.”

The night also carried added meaning for the Warriors, as the program honored its eighth grade players during 8th Grade Night. While the season is winding down, there are still some key matches to be played.

“We’ve got some really tough games coming up against teams near the top of our district,” Rittenberry said. “But if we can keep playing like we have, I have all the confidence in this team to pick up results.”