Third-Ranked Tigers Settle For NLC Tie
The Tigers, though, by not cashing in on their scoring opportunities versus NLC foe Goshen are still in the thick of the race for a league title.
Warsaw, ranked No. 3 in Class 2-A, still controls its own destiny for bragging rights in the NLC after playing the host Redskins to a 0-0 deadlock.
The Tigers now stand at 12-1-2 overall and 3-0-2 in league play. Goshen, the only other NLC team without a conference loss, moves to 7-2-3 overall and 3-0-3 in league action.
“We’re still in the driver’s seat in the NLC and I feel pretty good about that,” said Warsaw coach Scott Bauer following the tie. “I’m happy to leave here with a draw versus a good Goshen team and to still be in charge in the NLC. We have two draws and they have three and Concord has a loss and a draw.”
Warsaw dominated the offensive portion of the contest and had several good chances to score. The Tigers were just never able to put one in the back of the net.
“We were creating some decent opportunities and had our chances tonight,” Bauer said. “On a normal night, one or two of those chances probably goes in. But, soccer is like that on some nights.”
Warsaw outshot Goshen by a 14-4 margin. The Tiger duo of Diego Lopez and Nathan Kolbe each had a couple of good scoring looks, but just could not get the ball in the goal.
The Warsaw defense was its usual stellar self. The Tigers have now allowed just seven goals in 15 games this season. Senior keeper Michael Yantz had three saves, including a diving one with 12 minutes to go in the first half.
“That’s a good team and a good program,” said Bauer of Goshen. “They’ve beaten some very good teams this year and we knew this would be a difficult match.”
Warsaw, which has outscored its opponents 41-7 this season, was coming off a 1-0 win at Class 1-A No. 5 Fort Wayne Canterbury on Monday. Goshen, which was 11-5-2 overall and 2-4-1 in the NLC in 2011, defeated Wawasee 4-0 Tuesday as Isaac Huerta scored three goals. Huerta, a sophomore, had Goshen’s two best scoring chances Thursday night. The first was stopped by a diving Yantz and then his blast with seven minutes left in the game curled wide.Warsaw, which was 18-4-1 a year ago and lost in the semi state final, still must play Wawasee (Saturday) and Northridge (Sept. 27) in NLC contests. Goshen has one league game left versus Elkhart Memorial.
The Warsaw junior varsity team earned a 1-1 tie Thursday night. A goal by Juan Sanchez with just seven seconds left in the game gave the Tigers the tie.
Warsaw hosts Wawasee Saturday with the JV game first at 1 p.m.
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