Soccer Results: Sept. 25
NorthWood Boys JV wins two in Fort Wayne
The NorthWood JV Boys’ Soccer Team came away with two wins at the 2021 Teagarden JV Soccer Showcase held in Fort Wayne, hosted by Bishop Luers High School.
The team played and won both of their games, first against Ft Wayne Snider, 6-2, and then against multi-sport, non-conference rival Leo in a hard-fought 1-0 battle.
NorthWood Girls 14, Oregon-Davis 0
Thirteen different Lady Panthers scored 14 NorthWood goals in a lopsided match in Hamlet. For seven of them, it was their first goal of the season. Only four of the dressed field players, not counting the two goalies, did not find the net. The contest ended at the 20 minute mark of the second half due to the IHSAA mercy rule that was implemented this year.
Returners to the net included Ari Topping, who had two goals and 10 on the season, and one each for Caitlin Knepp (7 on the season), Haylee Heflin (3), Lizzie Hilderbrant (2), Daisie Thomas (2) and Morgan Jenkins (2),
First time scorers included Fatima Ghaffar, Callie Johnson, Paige Cronkright, Yareli Castro, Joslyn Miller, Dao Xayyavongsa and Eva Sloat.
Carly Mast and Emily Miller worked the goalbox for NorthWood, combining for a clean sheet.
NorthWood (8-3-1, 1-3-1 NLC) will close out the regular season with two conference battles, first on Tuesday at Plymouth and at home for Senior Night on Thursday with Wawasee.
Warsaw Girls 9, Wawasee 0
In another contest that was stopped early due to the mercy rule, the Lady Tigers shut out their Kosciusko County rivals on Saturday in Syracuse.
Corissa Koontz wasted no time putting Warsaw on the scoreboard, scoring with just 1:10 off the clock, tucking her first goal into the side netting. The Lady Tiger midfielder would not be done, as she filled the stat sheet with three goals and two assists.
Kiana Rager (2), Sarah Kratzsch (2), Samantha Aalbue and Bonnie Hampton would also contribute goals in the win. Zoe Bergan, Rylee Burns, Abbi Kohler and Valeria Marquez would register assists in the match.
Ellie Schenk earned her sixth shutout in the net for the Tigers, who move to 9-6 (5-1 NLC) on the season. The Tigers will finish the regular season next week with two tough opponents, a road trip to Carroll on Tuesday, and then a home game with Northridge on Thursday. A win over Northridge Thursday would ensure at least a partial share of the NLC championship.
In the JV game, Warsaw came out victorious with a 3-0 win. Sophie Johnston opened the scoring with an unassisted goal with 14:14 remaining in the game. Just two minutes later, Natalie Brown would get her first goal of the game from the foot of Ari Wade. Ari would get her second assist of the afternoon with 3:00 remaining on the clock when she set up Sophie Johnston for her second goal of the game. Claire German earned the clean sheet for the Lady Tigers. The JV Tigers will return to action Tuesday night when they travel to Carroll.
Lakeland Christian Academy Girls 2, Maconaquah 0
Play was fairly even between the two teams with LCA having a tad of advantage, according to Cougar coach Nat Raber, adding that his team had the better scoring chances.
With about eight minutes to go in the first half, Lauren Grose took a shot from the side and was able to get it past the Braves’ keeper for the only score of the period.
The second half saw the game get more and more physical with a lot of fouls called against both teams. Maconaquah would get a couple quality chances but were turned away by the effort of LCA’s back line and keeper Finley Hobbs. With a minute to go in the game, LCA would get a corner kick that Keely Bauer was able to tap in a goal to seal the victory.
“We finally played a game with a full roster and the girls played really well,” said Raber. “The girls really wanted this one as it was senior recognition game. Really happy to have Finley back and let Lauren loose on the front line. It was great to get a win.”
LCA will host Culver Community at 5 p.m.Tuesday.
Lakeland Christian Academy Boys 6, Granger Christian 1
LCA’s boys also were winners this weekend, defeating their guests from Granger Christian 6-1.
The visitors would score the first goal in the eighth minute, but that was the extent of their offense for the day.
Peter Koller answered in the 24th minute, assisted by Landen Bremer. Bremer would pot his own goal, assisted by Zeb Stills in the 32nd minute. It would prove to be the final goal of the half, sending the teams off with a 2-1 LCA lead.
Micah Burns knocked home the third LCA goal, assisted by Bremer, in the 55th minute. Teammate Jayce Dixon added a goal unassisted in the 66th minute.
LCA would cap their scoring with two goals by Trey Avey, first in the 73rd minute assisted by Andrew Bosch and again unassited two minutes later.
“Very pleased with our second half effort,” said LCA coach Dan Miller. “We came out a little sluggish and Granger Christian capitalized with a brilliant shot that went into the upper corner. Tonight was senior night and it was our seniors who were able to show leadership and regroup our team to settle down and play better. I’ve coached for many years and this is the first time I’ve had all the seniors score on senior night. Trey Avey, Landen Bremer and Peter Koller each bagged a goal today. I’m proud of them, and happy to see us string together consecutive victories for the first time all season.”
Warsaw Boys 10, Wawasee 2
Warsaw continued to add to its league-leading NLC pace, defeating the Warriors on their home turf. The game sat at 4-2 at halftime before the Tigers dominated the second stanza with six unanswered goals.
Once again, Wawasee was playing with a depleted roster thanks to injury, illness and quarantine, according to coach Jordan Sharp.
“The boys played hard in the first half, but without many subs it started to show,” added Sharp. “Great heart from Isaac Hodges, Sylvester Trujillo and Mason Possell.”
Wawasee fell to 4-9-1 (0-5 NLC), while Warsaw moved to 11-4 (5-0-1).
The Warriors will host Northridge on Tuesday and Plymouth on Thursday to close out the regular season.
Warsaw will take their shot at an NLC championship when they travel to Northridge on Thursday, needing either a win or a tie to take the title.
Grace Women 2, Marian 2
The NAIA Top-20 clash between No. 16 Grace and No. 7 Marian lived up to the hype on Saturday night.
After 110 minutes of women’s soccer action, the two highly ranked teams settled for a hard-fought 2-2 draw. Each side had a turn with the lead at 1st Source Bank Field, but neither team could find the ultimate winner after two overtimes.
Freshman Eliana Styer impressed for the Lady Lancers, scoring a goal and assisting on another. Madison Tuma also scored for Grace.
But in the end, two individual long-range shots from Marian were enough for the final 2-2 scoreline to begin Crossroads League play.
Grace started the game as the aggressor, earning a few goal-scoring opportunities right away.
Danae Moriarty had the best early chance when she stole a pass and beat a defender in Marian’s penalty box. Moriarty’s shot was saved, however.
Alexis Larimore also had a trio of early shots that were denied.
In the seventh minute, Marian’s first foray into Grace’s end resulted in the first goal. Grace lost possession in a dangerous position, and the Knights made Grace pay with a strong individual goal from Erin Oleksak.
Larimore nearly scored an equalizer by herself. She dribbled half the length of the field, sped by a defender and fired a shot from a tight angle. But Marian’s goalkeeper was up to the task with a save.
The game shifted into a midfield battle during the middle portions of the half with Grace holding the better part of possession.
Grace continued to find threatening chances and finally broke through in the 31st minute. Amber Meade fired a long free kick hard at goal. The goalkeeper got a glove on the ball, but Styer alertly knocked in the rebound in front of the net to tie the game.
The teams entered halftime level at 1-1. Grace had a 6-4 advantage in shots with four of Grace’s shots on net.
The Lady Lancers also had the only two corner kicks of the half.
In the second half, the Knights were much more attack-oriented. The Lady Lancers played for possession but struggled to generate as many chances.
During one of Grace’s deepest advances into Marian’s end, the Lady Lancers found a go-ahead goal. Lea Fricke played a clever leading pass along the right edge of the field. Styer immediately passed to the center of the box toward Tuma, who placed her shot inside the upper-90 of the net at the 66:19 mark.
Grace’s 2-1 lead had a quick expiration date, however. The Knights needed just 15 seconds to race down the field as Oleksak launched a 28-yard shot just below the crossbar to tie the score at 2-2.
Neither team could find a winner over the final 23 minutes of regulation, sending the contest to overtime.
Marian had an eye for goal in the first overtime period, firing off five shots in the 10-minute session. Only one of those attempts were on frame, however, as the match went to a final OT.
Grace was unable to produce a shot attempt in the final 10 minutes as the two tired squads settled for a 2-2 draw.
Bethany Blackwood registered nine saves in goal for Grace in 110 minutes of action. Larimore’s three shots led Grace, and Tuma tried two more attempts.
“Our staff is so proud of our crew at this moment. They put in the work every minute tonight and kept the quality high,” said Grace head coach Michael Voss. “New players are seeing a higher quality of minutes. Kim [Aalbue] and Eliana [Styer] were high quality, [Madison] Tuma came through in big ways as did the Leas [Moessinger, Fricke]. It was great to get two players back tonight, and we should see the return of the other four soon.”
The Lady Lancers are on the road twice next week, playing at St. Francis on Wednesday and at No. 4 Spring Arbor on Saturday.
Marian Men 2, Grace College 0
Grace College’s men’s soccer team dropped its Crossroads League opener to Marian on Saturday night.
The Lancers played the Knights (5-3-2, 1-0 CL) to a scoreless tie through the first half, but two second half markers handed Grace (3-7, 0-1 CL) the defeat.
The Lancers controlled pace early, earning a pair of corners and trying two shots.
One of Grace’s best chances came off of a corner kick. Jonny Mora crossed a ball to Dan Allen who chipped the ball past the Knight’s goalkeeper, but his effort hit the crossbar.
The Lancers continued to pepper the Knights with shots but were unable to break the deadlock.
Grace outshot Marian 9-4 in the first half and held a 5-1 advantage in corners.
The Lancers came out in the second half and again seemed to be dictating the pace of play, but it would be Marian who would finally score the game’s first goal.
The Knights got the ball into the box and used a cross to open up a clean look on goal. Matteo Conci made a diving effort, but Marian still scored to give the Knights the lead with 28 minutes remaining.
The teams traded chances late, but once again it would be Marian who capitalized with under five minutes left.
Taking advantage of Grace, who was sold out on offense to find the equalizer, Marian had a long counter attack that ended with a hard hit shot that scored from 23 yards out.
The Knights’ second marker essentially put the game on ice as Grace fell 2-0.
Grace outshot Marian 20-9 with nine of their attempts being on goal. The Lancers also enjoyed an 8-4 advantage on corner kicks.
Conci made two saves in goal, and Ze Maria Goncalves led all players with seven shots.
Grace will return to action on Wednesday at 7 p.m. as the squad plays host to St. Francis.