Warsaw’s Tito Cuellar should be an important piece to another solid Tigers boys soccer season. (Photo by Nick Goralczyk)

WARSAW –  Winning is just business for the Warsaw boys soccer team and for quite a while now, business has been good.

In 2013 the Tigers laid claim to their sixth consecutive regional championship, one short Evansville Memorial’s state record of seven straight (2004-10). Warsaw would only see its season end at the hands, or feet, of eventual Class 2-A state champion Crown Point by a 1-0 final in the opening round of the Warsaw Semi-state.

“I think our goal is, well, it’s always been to win conference and to go deep in the postseason,” stated Warsaw head coach Scott Bauer, who guided the Tigers to a Class 2-A state runner-up finish in 2012. “Sectionals, regional, we don’t even have to talk about that with the guys given the success they’ve had over the past six years.”

That success could be once again duplicated the Tigers will return the hot-footed Tito Cuellar and a slew of other players from last year’s team. While Cuellar brings back a big boost to the offensive side of the game along with Sam Allbritten, the defense will again look good with the return of keeper Peyton Long.

Long made a name for himself in last year’s regional making great stops in the Tigers’ wins over South Bend St. Joseph and conference foe Northridge.

“Peyton (Long) has really come into his own as a keeper,” Bauer said. “Tito (Cuellar) will really be key for us. He’s tireless, he’s a hard worker and he reads the game well. Sam (Allbritten) in midfield with Manuel Rodriguez will be important players for us.

“They’re big, strong boys but they’re also agile and quick. That will be a strength of ours. We’ll also have some guys back that will help solidify our back line.”

Warsaw finished fourth in the Northern Lakes Conference standings last season but managed to come within minutes of knocking off the eventual state champion. Another season through the gauntlet that is the NLC will once again prepare the Tigers for a deep postseason run.

The preseason coaches poll has the Tigers ranked No. 10 in Class 2-A. Warsaw will start its season Tuesday night at Argos.

Sharper Focus At Wawasee

Wawasee head coach Jordan Sharp is hoping attention to detail will help his team over the hump this fall.

Sharp felt his team were in most games despite a 6-9-3 record in 2013, but a 3-2 loss to Plymouth in the sectional stuck with a lot of his returning players.

Wawasee’s offense will need some revamping after losing more than half its scoring output to the graduation of Fernando Camargo and Rasmus Rich. The two accounted for 19 of Wawasee’s 34 goals, and helped on five of the 14 others. Sharp is hoping the combo of seniors Ricky Camargo and Luis Camargo can pick up the slack. Ricky leads the returners with five goals and Luis led the 2013 team with four assists.

Sharp likes what he has seen in leadership roles from juniors Brock O’Haver and Kyle Weideman and feels senior goalkeeper Korey Knafel is ready to break out for a huge season.

“We need to be hungry, take advantage of situations and play hard the entire game,” Sharp offered during training camp. “Our guys want to go out and fight hard and do their best. With that in mind, we’ll try to win, but the results will come with the work. We are putting more pressure on them to communicate and focus, trying to get them to buy into the playing a solid 80 minutes of soccer.”

Cougars Continuing Growth

Lakeland Christian will enter its second season as an IHSAA program. The Cougars program is still getting its feet wet but has some prospects entering the 2014 campaign.

Vincent Sell will take over the head coaching duties and looks to return nine players from the Cougars 2013 roster.

One big returner from last year’s squad will be keeper Drew Nieveen. Sell described Nieveen as a leader for the team. The senior goalie’s play will be a key piece in the Cougars success this season.

LCA will start its season Tuesday night when it hosts Elkhart Christian Academy.