"Knock down drag out"  is not a phrase usually used to describe a soccer game, but it did apply to Thursday night's 1-0 Waynesville victory at Camdenton.  Twenty-five fouls were called and five yellow cards issued as the Lakers  sought revenge for last year's 10-0 skunking in district action and the Tigers attempted to remain undefeated and in first place in the Ozark Conference.

Fortunately for WHS fans, senior Tremayne Watterson had the leg to take advantage of one of those Laker fouls.  With the game scoreless late and fans beginning to think of overtime, a Laker foul awarded the Tigers a direct kick with 7:14 remaining.  Watterson stepped up on the right side about 35 yards out and dropped one amidst a crowd in front of the net.  As everyone fought for position, the ball bounced into the back of the goal  and the Tigers went to three and oh in the O.C. 

The game was hard fought from the outset and by the end, the Lakers had committed 14 of the fouls and been issued four of the yellow cards.  The first half was played cleanly compared to the last forty minutes, but later,  as the scoring chances increased and fell short, the physicality increased.  Tiger keeper Jon Moore made two of his six saves under heavy pressure.  The first resulted in a rebound, but a Laker attacker whiffed at it.  On the second save,  Moore tipped a direct kick over the cross bar.

The Tigers had scoring chances as well.  Caleb Rodriguez one touched a Chase Holden free kick which was grabbed by the Laker keeper and Holden turned away from a defender with a  180  and shot just high minutes later.  The Tigers return home next week for Tuesday and Friday games against Lebanon and Nixa.