Five Tigers Among Boys Soccer All-NLC
The Northern Lakes Conference announced its selections for the boys soccer season, and five Tigers from Warsaw along with two from Wawasee, were tabbed for the lists.
All four first-team members from Warsaw are seniors in midfielder Grant Allbritten, forwards Nathan Kolbe and Diego Lopez and goalkeeper Michael Yantz were all picked first-team All-NLC. Junior defender Gustavo Rodriguez was chosen Honorable Mention All-NLC.
Kolbe leads the Tigers, which are playing in the 2A state championship game this Saturday against Columbus North, with 20 goals and 11 assists while Yantz has allowed just 10 goals in 23 matches this season, collecting 13 shutouts in the process.
Concord claimed the NLC team title with a 5-1-1 record. The Minutemen and Tigers tied 1-1 in August while Goshen handed Concord its only loss. The Redskins were undefeated in NLC play at 4-0-3, but the three tied contests, including a scoreless draw with Warsaw, finished one point behind Concord in the aggregate points standings. Warsaw were deemed 3-2-2 after accepting forfeiture of seven total matches for having used an ineligible player, two of which were NLC contests against NorthWood and Elkhart Memorial.
Wawasee received two All-NLC nominations, with senior midfielder Jordan Acton taking All-NLC honors and senior goalkeeper Josh Secor Honorable Mention All-NLC honors. The Warriors struggled in conference play, going 0-6-1 with the lone tie coming against NorthWood.
The NLC also formally announced its girls All-NLC honors despite releasing names earlier in the month. Warsaw seniors Meredith Hollar and Erica Gauger along with junior keeper Abby Schue were first team All-NLC selections and senior Gabby Monroy was Honorable Mention All-NLC. Wawasee senior Lexy Blunk was All-NLC and classmate Cassie Martinez was Honorable Mention All-NLC.
Northridge were the girls NLC champions with a 6-0-1 record with Concord runners-up at 6-1. Warsaw were 3-3-1 and Wawasee 0-7 in conference play.