Warsaw’s Tito Cuellar controls the ball versus Goshen Thursday night. The No. 17 Redskins topped the No. 6 Tigers 2-0 (Photos by Amanda Farrell)

WARSAW – Timing in athletics can mean everything to a team.

The Goshen boys soccer team picked a pretty good time Thursday night to play its’ best match of the season.

The Redskins looked worthy on a conference champion in blanking host Warsaw 2-0 in a clash of Northern Lakes Conference titans.

Goshen, ranked No. 17 in Class 2-A, tallied a pair of second half goals to topple the Class 2-A No. 6 Tigers.

The Redskins improve to 11-1 overall, but more importantly 6-0 in NLC action. Warsaw drops to 8-1-5 overall and 3-1-1 in league play.

“That’s a good team, the best Goshen team I’ve seen and the best team we’ve seen this season,” said Warsaw coach Scott Bauer. “They are fast, athletic and pass the ball well. Coach V does a great job with them.

“We needed to win this one for the conference. I feel bad for the boys. We’ll talk about it tomorrow and move on. I just hope we get another chance at them (in the regional).”

Warsaw, the state runner-up in 2012, had won five matches in a row after three straight ties. The hosts, who had a big 3-2 home win Tuesday night over Class 2-A No. 15 Fort Wayne Canterbury (who won the Class 1-A state championship last year), started slow Thursday night.

“I thought we started slow and gave them confidence in the first 20 minutes,” Bauer said. “We came out stronger to start the second half. We need to learn from this that we are not invincible. I don’t mind the confidence and us thinking that we are going to win every time we step on the field. But, we have to realize that we have to come out every match and back it up.”

Goshen, whose lone loss was a 1-0 decision to Class 2-A No. 12 Elkhart Central, broke through with 21:57 to play. Senior defender Geovanny Martinez tapped in a goal that found its’ way to him off a corner kick from Jose Martinez-Garcia.

“It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but it took a nice little bounce to Geo and he was able to tap it in,” said Goshen coach Viratham Mounsithiraj.

“We didn’t find a head on that ball, but that’s soccer,” explained Bauer. “Then with 10 minutes left we had to take our chances, pull a defender and try and get the equalizer. Losing 1-0 or 2-0 is all the same.”

Goshen sealed the deal with just 3:06 to play when junior Jesus Dominguez drilled home a goal for the 2-0 final.

“This is one of the best teams we’ve had in my 10 years here,” said coach Mounsithiraj. “I told our guys that they had to be at their best tonight. I’m proud of them. This is our best game all year.

“This is a big step for our program. To walk out of here with a win says a lot. It’s a good feeling for us and a big statement. Warsaw is the best team we’ve seen and with the kind of team they have year in and year out, this is big.”

The win not only assured Goshen of no worse than a share of the NLC title, but it also denied Bauer’s bid for his 200th career coaching win. Bauer has coached the Tigers since 1999 and the team has made three straight State Finals appearances.

Goshen will look to complete an undefeated NLC season by hosting Elkhart Memorial next Thursday.

“We have not won the NLC outright since 2000 and I had never beat Scott,” said Mounsithiraj. “We’ve had at least three second place finishes in the conference and I’ve tied Scott about four times.”

Warsaw, which tied Goshen 1-1 last year, plays at Wawasee Saturday and at Northridge next Thursday to complete NLC action.

The Tigers could meet the Redskins again next month in the Mishawaka Regional. Warsaw hosts its own sectional, while Goshen will play in the Concord Sectional. The Mishawaka Regional will include the winners of sectionals at Warsaw, Concord, South Bend Adams and South Bend St. Joseph.

Goshen had 10 shots, including six on goal, and five corners in the win. The host Tigers had seven shots, but just two on goal, and did not have a corner kick opportunity.

Warsaw won the junior varsity match 1-0 Thursday. Thomas Rivera scored for the Tigers, who improve to 7-3-2 overall and 3-1-1 in the NLC.

Warsaw plays at Wawasee Saturday in a girls/boys doubleheader. The boys’ JV game begins at 1 p.m. with the varsity match to follow. The Tigers then host Fort Wayne South Side Monday. Goshen plays at West Noble and then at Fort Wayne South Side on Saturday.

Manuel Rodriguez of Warsaw (right) and Jesus Dominguez of Goshen battle for the ball at WCHS Thursday night.