Elizabeth VanWormer prepares to blast away for Warsaw Monday night (Photos by Amanda Farrell)

WARSAW – The Warsaw girls soccer program saluted its seniors Monday night.

The Tigers then went out and celebrated on the pitch with a 2-0 home victory over Fort Wayne Northrop.

Brooklyn Jackson continued her high scoring season to pace the hosts to the non-conference win.

Jackson scored in the 32nd minute on a penalty kick and then added another tally in the 58th minute on a free kick from about 30 yards out.

“It was a difficult game,” said Warsaw coach Peter Lucht in an email Monday night.  “Northrop is a tough opponent who has a chance to finish second in their conference.  They were able to create and sustain periods of pressure and hold off a potent Tiger attack.  In the end, two free kicks from leading goal scorer Brooklyn Jackson was enough to earn the Tigers a victory.”

“Sometimes the games are not as pretty as you want them to be.  But seeing the scoreboard read 2-0 in your favor at the end of the night is a pretty beautiful thing.”

Goalie Abby Schue posted the shutout for the Tigers. Lucht also cited the play of Danielle Hutcherson, a junior midfielder for his team.

The Tigers  honored seniors Schue, Zoe Smyth and Vanessa Malagon prior to the match.

“Our hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to Vanessa Malagon, a senior who suffered a difficult injury part-way through the match,” added coach Lucht.

Warsaw now stands at 6-2-2 overall on the season.

Warsaw won the junior varsity contest by a 4-1 final. Scoring goals for the winners were Melanie Cervantes, Haley Schaeffer, Christina Tiahuetl and Rosie Fleming.  McKenzy Secrist had an assist for the JV Tigers, who are now 4-1.

The Tigers play at Columbia City Thursday.

 

Warsaw senior Zoe Smyth (at right) battles with Northrop’s Katie Crisler Monday. The Tigers won 2-0.