Culver Stuns Warsaw, Claims Plymouth Title
PLYMOUTH – There aren’t many in the soccer world that enjoy watching penalty kicks decide championships. Culver Academy, at least for one tournament on one day, loved the outcome as it survived six rounds of penalties to stun Warsaw in the championship of the Plymouth Girls Soccer Sectional. The match finished 4-4 after overtime, and the Academy won the shoot-out, 5-4, to claim the sectional trophy.
In what many thought would be a low-scoring affair saw both teams score seemingly at will. Warsaw claimed a 3-1 lead in the first half and looked well on its way, only for the Academy to respond on two separate occasions to tie the game in the second half.
Down two in the second half, Culver drew level in the span of two minutes when Anne Marie Wright flicked a ball in off a corner kick, then tied the match just moments later on an open opportunity.
Warsaw, showing the resiliency to bounce back, needed less than 90 seconds to strike when Rachel McClelland lofted a free kick into the Culver penalty area. Rather than a head finding the ball, the kick just kept sailing over Academy keeper Hannah Fisher’s hands and into the net.
The score remained 4-3 until the 72nd minute when Jordan Blackburne made three quality touches on the ball and fired low, beating Warsaw keeper Chloe Snow to equalize the match.
In the 14 minutes of overtime, Culver outshot Warsaw 6-0 but neither team could find a winner, so penalties ensued.
Both teams went 4-1 in the first round. In the sudden death kicks, Fisher dove to save Julie Frazzetta’s offering. Natasha Wanless made up her mind before even lining up on the ball, going left corner to beat Snow for the clincher, sending Culver to the regional round and giving the Eagles its first sectional title since 2010.
“I just can’t say enough about how our girls fought through every situation,” said Culver Academy head coach Eric Schmidt. “When we needed a defining moment, we stepped up. We were down two goals in the second half and tied the match. We were down a penalty in the shootout and came back. It’s a testament to the girls and the desire they had to win.
“This is one of the best games I have been a part of, and am so proud of them. This is an awesome feeling right now.”
Warsaw took the lead in the first half after just two minutes when Alex Koontz’s corner kick found Anna Grill for the first goal. Kennedy Kubica tied the game two minutes later on a direct kick goal.
Elizabeth Van Wormer scored on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute, and later scored off a pass from Sydney Weideman in the 28th minute.
Van Wormer finished the season with 27 goals and 14 assists, one goal shy of the school record for goals in a season and tied for most assists in a season. Van Wormer broke the school record for goals in a career Thursday in the sectional semis and finishes her incredible and historic career with 70 goals and 30 assists.
The Lady Tigers wrap up 14-2-1 overall, and while head coach Peter Lucht refused to let the loss define the season, the loss did sting a lot.
“Every single team that goes out, no matter where it is, if they finish in second place, they will still feel that burn,” Lucht said.
“There is certainly a lot of talent there and we’re not afraid to play the talent whenever they are ready,” Lucht continued. “Whether they walk in the doors ready to play or need some time to prepare. Wherever they are at, we’ll play them. Even though it’s tough to look forward, to be honest, but we certainly have a phenomenal group that is returning, so God willing.”
Culver Academy (11-2-2) will face either Penn or South Bend Adams – which meet tonight in the finals of the Penn Sectional – in the Goshen Regional next Wednesday.