Wawasee’s Chris Strombeck struggles to clear the ball away from NorthWood’s Landon Parker Wednesday night in the 2-0 Warrior win in the Wawasee Boys Soccer Sectional semis. (Photos by Mike Deak)

SYRACUSE – NorthWood boys soccer head coach Brad Duerksen knew it was a matter of time before it came. It happened twice, and he could only sit and watch Wawasee celebrate.

Wawasee executed a pair of set pieces to perfection Wednesday, lifting itself to a 2-0 win over NorthWood in the Wawasee Boys Soccer Sectional semi-finals.

Chris Pena celebrates Wawasee’s first goal.

“We are not a good team in the air and its been our Achilles Heel this year defending set pieces,” Duerksen said. “We knew they wanted to get the ball in the air and let their forwards run under it, and we let it happen. Their set pieces are their specialty. When we beat them 5-3 earlier in the year, two of their goals were off set pieces. We knew that. We just didn’t defend it.”

Wawasee turned around a shot on target by Panther Trent Edwards and went the other way, drawing a throw in about 25 yards from NorthWood’s goal. Ian Lambright’s offering back into play went sailing over a handful of NorthWood defenders and to a streaking Chris Pena, who got a head onto the ball. The shot attempt was tipped by Panther keeper Micah Pippenger and rolled into the net. Warriors up 1-0.

Six minutes later, Lambright’s service worked again. On a corner kick from the right edge, his lofty chance met the head of Ryan Edington, whose six-foot frame was too tall for NorthWood to stop. The two-goal edge was just what Wawasee skipper Jordan Sharp wanted to see heading into half.

“We did utilize Lambright’s ability to use his canon to send in the throw and the corner. Why not?,” Sharp said. “It doesn’t always go as planned, but it is a designed play and worked for us twice today.”

NorthWood had its chances, but didn’t keep up the manic pace it did Monday against West Noble. Its best chance came early in the second half when an innocent enough shot from 20-plus yards out looked like it would just sail out of bounds. Instead, it dipped at the last minute, forcing a momentarily relaxed Dillon Drake to leap frantically and tip the ball out of bounds away from the top corner.

NorthWood’s Juan Pantoja settles into possession.

Little moments like that all went Wawasee’s way Wednesday. A flick of the ball by Chris Strombeck away from Matthew Thornton on a counter slowed a 3-on-2 break enough for the Warrior defenders to rally. Eric Yankosky jabbed a ball away from Juan Pantoja on what looked to be a clear crossing opportunity into the box, forcing Pantoja’s cross to sail harmlessly out of bounds. Blayne Faught headed away a backside cross with three Panthers bearing down on the ball. Wawasee also blocked two Panther free kicks located within 25 yards, one set up just outside the Warrior 18 just after Edington’s goal.

“We were just off tonight, and we didn’t play well,” Duerksen said. “First, you have to give credit to Wawasee for playing well and making the plays when they needed to. They just looked like they wanted it more than we did. It was two scrappy teams going at it, and they made it happen. It just wasn’t our night.”

Added Sharp, “I think our guys are finally clicking and they stepped up in the big moments, which we have asked them to do all along. That’s good and what good teams do. I think we are starting to show signs of being that good team that I felt we could be. That’s where you want to be at this point of the season.”

NorthWood (9-9) would manage 12 shots in the contest, Drake making 10 saves for his second clean slate in as many sectional games. Wawasee (7-7-3) only took six shots in the game, Pippenger stopping three of them.

Wawasee will play Garrett Saturday at 2 p.m. in the sectional final, trying to win its first title since 2002. Garrett beat Angola 2-2 (2-1 PK) in Wednesday’s second game. Angola got on the board in the first half, only for Garrett to get the goal back shortly into the second half. The Railroaders potted a penalty kick in the first overtime to take a 2-1 lead, only for Angola to score with 3:33 left in overtime to draw even and force penalties. In the penalty shootout, Garrett advances on a final round at 2-1.

“We are just really excited,” Sharp said. “It’s been a journey to get here. This will be the first sectional championship played here. It’s ours to win. We might not be the best team around, but we have a chance. If we want it, we have to go out and get it done. To get this team to regionals would be absolutely huge.”

NorthWood’s Kyle Luster tries to make contact with a cross during play against Wawasee Wednesday evening.