The young JV soccer team kept the game close, but lost a 1-0 season-opening result to Columbia Battle High School Thursday night in Waynesville.  Despite having 11 freshmen on the 17-man roster, the Tigers found themselves in a scoreless game late against the Spartans.  A hard shot to the upper right of the net with 7:07 remaining gave the visitors the win.  Battle's JV roster included three seniors, one of whom scored the winning goal.

After a very even first half that saw freshman goal keeper AJ Gates make a nice diving save on Battle's only shot, the visitors turned up the heat in the second half.  Gates had five more saves in the second half, three of them on dives.  Midfielder Spencer Blau came up with a hectic defensive save on a loose ball near the right post shortly before the winner.  Waynesville's best scoring chance came on a nice second half shot by Mark Sena that was covered by the Battler keeper.