Warsaw Wins NLC Soccer Title
The Class 2-A No. 3 ranked Tigers of Scott Bauer made it three straight conference crowns with a 3-0 league win over visiting Northridge.
The game under the big lights featured aggressive plays and fancy footwork. The game was evenly matched for the most part of the first half, until the Tigers put the pressure on. Senior Grant Allbritten put the ball in the back of the net in the thirty first minute to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Then, just before the half was over, senior Diego Lopez scored the second goal for the Tigers.
While Northridge never gave up in the second half, they never got a grip on the game. Senior Nathan Kolbe scored the final goal of the night in the sixty eighth minute to ensure the win for the Tigers.
Warsaw puts the finishing touches on a 14-1-2 overall mark with the win in their regular-season finale. The Tigers claim the Northern Lakes Conference championship at 5-0-2. Warsaw tied Concord 1-1 and Goshen 0-0 in league contests. Goshen finished as NLC runner-up at 4-0-3 in league play. With the loss Thursday evening, Northridge drops to 8-7-2 overall and 4-3 in the NLC.Warsaw coach Bauer said he could not have been prouder of how his team performed this season.
“They performed to the best of their ability and did not disappoint,” said Bauer of his championship squad.
Warsaw has now outscored its opponents 49-7 this season.
The Tigers begin postseason play next week with a sectional game versus NLC foe Wawasee Wednesday in the Class 2-A Plymouth Sectional at 5 p.m. Warsaw blanked the Warriors 5-0 last Saturday.
“We’ll come in prepared, aware that the underdog can win just as easily,” said Bauer of the impending rematch with Wawasee.
Warsaw advanced all the way to the semi state final in 2011 to cap off an 18-4-1 season.