Warsaw senior Miguel Rivera controls the ball versus Concord Wednesday. The No. 4 Tigers rallied for a 1-1 tie in the pivotal NLC match (Photos by Scott Davidson)

DUNLAP – The Warsaw and Concord boys soccer teams have developed quite the spirited rivalry on the pitch over the past several seasons.

There was no shortage of  that “spirit” either Wednesday night when the two Northern Lakes Conference heavyweights squared off in an early season showdown.

The Class 2-A No. 4 Tigers, for the second straight year, used some late game heroics to forge a 1-1 stalemate with the Minutemen in an intense, emotional clash.

Warsaw faced some self-inflicted adversity and responded like a champion in the final half.

Zach Tucker makes a run early in the game Wednesday for Warsaw.

The Tigers, who lost standout Zach Tucker with eight minutes to play in the opening half due to a red card, rallied to remain unbeaten on the field in NLC play the last three years.

Warsaw earned the tie when junior Manuel Rodriguez hit a ball that went through Concord keeper Anthony Saleh’s hands and between his legs and trickled into the net with 11:52 to play.

The Tigers, who got a goal with just 62 seconds left in the game last season to tie Concord 1-1, almost won the game with 2:50 to play. With Saleh  colliding with a teammate out of the goal, Tito Cuellar seemingly had a game winner to finish. But, Concord’s Trenton Snyder came sliding in to deflect the shot away.

“Under the circumstances, I’ll take this draw,” said Warsaw coach Scott Bauer, whose team had to forfeit its NLC title to Concord last year due to the use of an ineligible player. “This doesn’t hurt us at all in the NLC.

“I thought we responded very well in the second half and dominated play. To play a man down for more than a half is stressful. We have to do a better job keeping our heads. I hope our guys understand that. It’s about the team.

“That being said, it was my mistake not to warn our guys about playing here. Their fans are rabid and that’s how they should be.”

Julio Solano of Concord is pressured by Zach Tucker during NLC action at Concord Wednesday night.

Concord, now 5-0-1 overall and 2-0-1 in the NLC, took a 1-0 lead as senior Edson Pineda scored with 5:14 left in the opening half. The Minutemen missed a golden chance earlier in the half as a shot by Fernando Cervantes hit off the crossbar and a follow-up header try by teammate Julio Solano bounced off the side post.

The Minutemen also had a goal with three minutes to go in the opening half waved off due to an offsides call.

“We created some opportunities in the second half,” Bauer said. “It was all X’s and O’s at halftime when we had to go to a backup system. I challenged the guys to step up and play like a Warsaw team.

“I was ready to pull Manuel out and he goes and scores the tying goal. Then, we almost pull it out.

“I thought Concord had the upper hand the first 20 minutes. We were frustrated and the red card woke us up and we stepped up our play.  This is such an important match early in the NLC.  This one sets the tone. If you lose it, you lose footing in the NLC.”

Warsaw, which was state runner-up in 2012, sits at 3-0-3 overall and 1-0-1 in the NLC. Concord has NLC wins over Wawasee and Elkhart Memorial so far this fall.

Warsaw had six shots and Concord five Wednesday.  Tiger keeper Peyton Long had four saves and Saleh made three stops for the hosts. Each team had two corner kicks.

The Tigers took the junior varsity contest by a 1-0 final. Brad O’Cock scored for the winners in the second half off an assist by Pedro Monsivais.

Warsaw plays at Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian Thursday.  Concord plays at Elkhart Central Saturday.

Warsaw’s Manuel Rodriguez battles for the ball. Rodriguez scored the tying goal for the Tigers at Concord Wednesday.