Pigeon Forge (7-1, 5-0) upped its win streak on the soccer field to seven Thursday night night with a 13-0 blanking of visiting Heritage. Since losing a close opening game against David Crockett H.S. the Tigers have been on a tear, pouring in 66 goals over the last seven games while allowing only two scores by the opposition. Joseph Henrique had his first five-goal game of the year against the Mountaineers after hitting four goals in a game three different times this season.
Thursday’s game was the biggest Tiger scoring fest of the season, even with every available player getting time on the field. Goalie Austin Woodrick had another lonely day under the alternating dark clouds and moments of sunshine, getting only five visits by the Mountaineers in the game, with just two goals to stop in the first half.
Pigeon Forge opened slowly in the April Fool chill before Joseph Peltier got the team back on track. Peltier took a pass from Van Harper on the left flank and footed it home into the far corner of the net. The Tigers then won back the opening kick at midfield and Peltier booted another goal in just a minute after his first score.
Two minutes later Henrique notched his first goal of the game, picking up the long kick and dribbling it into position for a line drive past the Heritage goal tender that upped the lead to 3-0. Henrique saw his next shot snuffed by the goalie, who failed to wrap up the deflection. Henrique swatted the deflection into the net with the goalie still looking for his dropped save.
Bryan Aleman took an assist from Henrique to up the score to 5-0 in the waning moments of the half. The half wasn’t running fast enough for Heritage. Jerry Habraken sent a screamer towards the goal that would have been good had it not hit squarely on the front of the goal post and bounced back at him. The second kick soared toe-up-high over the goal and allowed HHS a sigh of relief. The sigh didn’t last long as Henrique scored again, this time with a left footer off a Peltier assist. Zack Schrandt notched the last assist of the half, setting up Henrique’s fourth goal for a 7-0 lead.
Van Harper took an unassisted goal after an off-key first half. Schrandt set up a second goal by Harper as the lead grew to nine. Woodrick had his only real challenge of the afternoon as Heritage managed to apply some pressure in the second half. The best Mountaineer attempt at a score came on a penalty shot set up. Woodrick deflected the ball just high enough for it to hit the cross bar and bounce back safely into his waiting arms.
Schrandt sent the ball long to clear it from the Mountaineers and it rolled cleanly into a set up of Henrique’s fifth and final score of the contest for a double digit deficit for Heritage. Stephen Gorden spooked out the goalie, then cut his angle and picked up a score by slapping the ball in to the empty net. Schardnt finally got his own goal to make it a dozen. Chris Todd was after a score and used a diving side kick attempt that hit the wrong side of the goal post to roll harmlessly away. Todd made the most of his next shot, sliding it by the defense for the lucky 13.
Heritage faced 38 Tiger shots, defending 25 of them in the game. Woodrick was perfect, stopping all five Mountaineer scoring attempts.
Tuesday the Tigers came away from Halls with a 7-1 victory. Henrique had his third four-goal game against the Red Devils. Harper, Schrandt and John Bolanos contributed single scores. Halls fought tough early, but gave way in a flurry of Tiger shots set up by the teams passing.
Pigeon Forge is scheduled to host Seymour on Tuesday night. The Eagles defeated the Tigers in a preseason scrimmage. PF the hosts Carter on Thursday before traveling to play at state power Maryville on Monday, April19.

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