NorthWood celebrated its third sectional title in four years, but is looking for its first regional title in program history. Photo provided by Chris Knight

By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews

NAPPANEE – For the first time in school history, NorthWood will have both of its soccer teams playing in the second round of the IHSAA soccer state tournaments.

The NorthWood boys won its first sectional title since 2014 with a 2-0 victory over Angola Saturday night at the West Noble Sectional while the girls also claimed a 2-0 win, beating No. 10 DeKalb in the final of the Wawasee Sectional. It was a show of timely offense and lockdown defense throughout the week by the Panthers’ sides, developing what looks to be a tailor-made recipe for a run in the state tournament.

NorthWood Boys v. Hammond Clark at Mishawaka Marian, 1 p.m.

Joey Eshelman has been a steady presence for the surging Panthers. InkFreeNews file photo by Mike Deak

It will be an interesting matchup in what will be the first time the two teams have met in the state tournament.

Where the curiosity will come for NorthWood is the unknown of the Pioneers. The obvious of not having played historically is applied. However, Clark is likely still trying to figure itself out. Hammond city sports were initially canceled in August due to COVID concerns. That was walked back in mid-September, to which Clark was only able to get in two regular season matches. Both were losses.

But a turn in the sectional had the Pioneers win three straight, including a 2-1 triumph over Griffith on Saturday night to claim its first-ever sectional crown. So NorthWood will take on a team that has played five games this season with one sectional title under its collective drawstrings.

NorthWood will likely worry about itself and what it did to get its No. 8 ranking and 13 wins this season. Firepower, firepower and more firepower. Look no further than the team’s two forwards, Andre De Freitas and Sebastian Guillen. The two have combined to score 55 goals and assist on 33 others, likely assisting the other. De Freitas has become the program’s all-time leading scorer, and his 32 goals this season resets his team record for a season, one which he set last season.

Kaden Newcomer has provided a solid quarterbacking role in the midfield, offering eight goals on 28 shots and assisting on 14 other goals. Newcomer is joined in support by steady players like Cam Iwema, Joey Eschelman and Nick Lechlitner.

This season, 17 Panthers have registered at least one point, making it virtually impossible to hone in on one portion of the pitch.

NorthWood keeper Andrew Graber continues his rock solid play in his third season in between the pipes, owning an 0.99 goals against average and has eight shutouts to his credit this season. Other than a junk goal in the second half against Lakeland, NorthWood played the remainder of the West Noble Sectional spotless in a 9-1 win over Lakeland, 2-0 win over host West Noble and 2-0 win over Angola.

NorthWood (13-3-3) enters the regional as hot as anyone in the area. After taking a loss to Class 1-A defending champion Argos in the Dragons’ home tourney, the Panthers are 8-1-2 since, allowing just eight goals in that stretch.

South Bend St. Joe and No. 4 West Lafayette will meet in the first game. The regional final is set for 7 p.m.

NorthWood Girls v. Culver Academy at Plymouth, 10 a.m.

Lili Lomeli pitched a pair of shutouts in net for NorthWood in the sectional. Photo provided by Chris Knight

The Lady Panthers make the regional round for the third time in four years, but feel like business has been largely unfinished in its tournament history.

NorthWood has played in the Plymouth regional twice before, but a minus-seven aggregate in losses to West Lafayette and Culver Academy in 2017 and 2018 have the senior class remembering the sting of semi-final losses. Perhaps NorthWood can take from the regular season lessons, which included a trio of 1-0 Northern Lakes Conference losses to Northridge, Concord and Warsaw, along with a one-goal loss to Elkhart.

The Lady Panthers, however, have played solid when its mattered down the stretch, going 5-0-1 in its last six, all shutouts, including triumphs over No. 18 Plymouth and No. 10 DeKalb, a 2-0 sectional title over the rival Barons in the title match of the Wawasee Sectional.

NorthWood has had the luxury of spreading around its offensive production. Caitlin Knepp leads the way with 17 goals and four assists on 46 shots, taking some of the pressure off junior Emma Martz, who was receiving double and triple teams as a sophomore. Martz has kicked in 10 goals and six assists.

Contributions from Ari Topping (eight goals, six assists), Lizzie Hilderbrant (seven goals, one assist) and Morgan Jenkins (six goals, three assists) have helped NorthWood to an 8-5-3 overall mark.

Lili Lomeli has made 67 saves and allowed just 15 goals this season as the primary keeper for the club.

Culver Academy (11-5) has the ace of spades in its hand, having knocked out the No. 1 team in the state, Mishawaka Marian, by a 3-0 count on Marian’s home pitch in the sectional championship. The Academy also crushed Plymouth, 3-0, and New Prairie, 12-0, to reach the final.

Culver and NorthWood did not meet in 2020 after years of matchups in the regular season.

NorthWood’s 2017 regional opponent, West Lafayette, is back at Plymouth, taking on No. 9 Wheeler in the second Plymouth semi-final. The regional final is set for 7 p.m.