By Tim Tassa -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — For members of Warren County's boys soccer team, the next few days may be filled with flashes of bright yellow.

The Wildcats out-shot James Wood by 14 and enjoyed an overwhelming advantage in possession throughout Tuesday's Northwestern District matchup.

However — in losing 2-1 — they were also plagued by a 5-1 edge in yellow cards during the 80-minute contest, showing frustration in actions and words, while the Colonels kept to maximizing their few scoring opportunities.

"I was very pleased with the boys for just trying to control what they could and not worrying about things that they couldn't control," James Wood head coach Sean Welge said of his team, which snapped a five-game losing streak.

"I think part about not getting yellow cards is they were respectful to the ref, and I think that's one of those intangibles that goes a long way."

And despite the lack of shots and long offensive possessions, goals by Zach Lloyd in the first half and Alex Barrette in the second helped the Colonels to their eighth win of the season and sixth in district play.

"I think it gives our team some good momentum, hopefully we keep it up. I think we should definitely keep our spirits up and hopefully do pretty good," said Lloyd, whose goal came from just outside the box and was mishandled by Warren County goalkeeper Blake Sparling approximately 10 minutes into the game.

"We just worked the ball around and saw an opportunity," Lloyd said. "So I definitely didn't take any chances, so I took it."

James Wood added its second goal — extending its lead to 2-0 — with 18 minutes left in the second half on a free kick from Alex Barrette, who buried his shot into the left side of the net. Following the game, Barrette said he'd been working with Welge on his rhythm during practice, and found the keeper standing in the center of the goal.

"It was one of those either-or shots," Barrette said. "I just kind of took a deep breath and visualized where I was going to go and just kind of hit it."

Beginning with Jeff Moxie in the first half, the Wildcats were issued four additional yellow cards — all within 10 minutes of each other — in the final period, stemming from slide tackles, hard fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct.

"Heat of the battle, our boys giving it everything they got: Physically, emotionally, verbally," said Warren County assistant coach Pam Cornell, standing in for head coach Gali Sanchez, who was ill.

"But you know yellow cards are expected in soccer, we don't get too worried about them — they happen, it just shows the kids are giving 100 percent."

Still, with the momentum following the calls visibly on the side of the Colonels, Moxie added a goal with 11:06 remaining to give the home team life.

"As soon as they scored that first goal of theirs we were playing defense the whole time," defender Josh Marts said.

"They took their opportunities, and we just closed them down for the most part."

Facing goalkeeper Wyatt Clements, who had 12 saves on the night, Warren County sent two shots off the left post and sailed a shot just over the top of the net in the final ten minutes to no avail.

"We created a lot of scoring opportunities, the most we have all season long, so it's good that we're getting the attacking, we just have to start finishing those opportunities," Cornell said of her team, which fell to 5-6-1 on the season.

"I thought their keeper made a lot of big saves and made it difficult for us."

*Contact Tim Tassa at ttassa@nvdaily.com

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