Warsaw Soccer Eyes Postseason Run
The Warsaw boys soccer program has made the postseason its’ time to shine.
Will that magical run of success continue?
Coach Scott Bauer believes his squad has the talent to go deep into the state tournament series again.
For the Class 2-A No. 6 Tigers, who open sectional play at home Wednesday, it’s all about finding consistency according to their veteran coach.
“When we’re on, we can be very good,” said Bauer, the man who has guided the Tigers to the State Finals each of the last three years. “Right now, we’re not consistently on and that does concern me for the postseason.
“I believe we have the talent and are capable of being consistently on our game. It’s my job and the leaders of our team to make sure that happens.”
The Tigers, who were state runner-up in 2012, have won five sectional titles in a row. Warsaw will once again take to the pitch as the team to beat at home, starting versus Culver Academies Wednesday at 5 p.m.
“I think we are strong favorites in the sectional and will have the best side, but we still have to come out and show it,” Bauer said. “Our guys just have to decide to step up. We have the luxury of having a lot of players who have been deep in the postseason.”
Warsaw enters sectional play at 10-2-5. The Tigers ended up 4-2-1 in the NLC, losing 1-0 at Northridge last Thursday and 2-0 at home to NLC champion Goshen the previous week. The team will be without Matt Williams for their sectional game Wednesday. Williams must sit out after receiving a red card in the game at Northridge.
The Tigers have struggled at times this season to put the ball in the net. Warsaw, which graduated top scorers Nathan Kolbe and Diego Lopez from last year’s squad, will need to make the most of their opportunities in the state tournament.
“We’ve scored goals by committee this season and we need to continue to do that,” said Bauer. “Our past teams have had a cutting edge striker. It’s very important in the tournament to seize our opportunities to score goals. That gets our guys on a roll when we do that.”
Warsaw did not play Culver Academies during the regular season. The Tigers are 3-0 versus the rest of the sectional field with wins over NLC foes Wawasee (2-0), NorthWood (9-0) and Plymouth (3-0). With a win over Culver Academies Wednesday, host Warsaw would face one of the three in the championship match Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Warsaw Sectional opens tonight with Wawasee facing Plymouth. The Warriors, who are 6-8-3, just beat the Pilgrims 3-2 in an NLC match Thursday night in Syracuse.
The winner of the Wawasee-Plymouth contest will then face NorthWood Wednesday in the second semifinal.
Whitko takes a 2-13-1 mark into a sectional semifinal Thursday night at the Class 1-A Fort Wayne Blackhawk Sectional.
The Warsaw ladies will look to make it four straight sectional titles starting Thursday night at Plymouth.
Coach Peter Lucht’s team faces NLC and county rival Wawasee in a semifinal matchup of the five-team, Class 2-A event.
Warsaw, which lost in the regional final a year ago to South Bend St. Joseph, has had another outstanding fall on the pitch. The Tigers, who graduated career scoring leader Meredith Hollar, have been led by the trio of Brooklyn Jackson, Elizabeth VanWormer and Danielle Hutcherson.
The Tigers also boast one of the top goalies around in senior Abby Schue. The standout will play at Grace College next year.
Warsaw sits at 9-3-2 entering postseason play. The Tigers had won seven matches in a row until a 3-0 loss to Northridge Saturday at home.
The Tigers face a winless Wawasee team Thursday. The Warriors, who lost 5-0 at home to Warsaw on Sept. 28, are 0-16.
Warsaw, with a win Thursday, advances to the sectional title game Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Plymouth. The Tigers would face either Plymouth, NorthWood or Culver Academies. Warsaw did not play Culver Academies during the regular season, but defeated Plymouth 3-2 and lost at NorthWood 2-1 back on Aug. 29.
Whitko opens sectional play tonight in the second game of the Fort Wayne Luers Sectional. The Wildcats, who are 5-6-4, face Fort Wayne Concordia.
The two-game regionals for boys are Oct. 17 and 19 at Mishawaka and Garrett. Warsaw will host the boys four-team semi state on Oct. 26.
The two-game regionals for girls are Oct. 16 and 19 with Goshen serving as the Class 2-A host. With the limited number of teams in Class 1-A, the winner of the Blackford Sectional will play at the winner of the Luers Sectional in a one-game regional. South Bend St. Joseph will host the area semi state in Class 2-A.
The State Finals are set for Nov. 2 in Indianapolis at IUPUI. The finals begin at 10:30 a.m. with the Girls’ Class 1-A finale, followed by the Boys’ 1-A at 1 p.m. the Girls’ Class 2-A at 3:30 and the Boys’ Class 2-A at 6.
Boys Soccer Sectional Pairings
Class 2-A
At Warsaw
Oct. 7: 6 p.m.: Wawasee vs. Plymouth
Oct. 9: 5 p.m.: Warsaw vs. Culver Academies; 7 p.m.: NorthWood vs. Wawasee-Plymouth winner
Oct. 12: 2 p.m.: Championship Game
Class 1-A
At Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian
Oct. 10: 5 p.m.: FW Blackhawk vs. Manchester; 7 p.m.: Whitko vs. Fort Wayne Concordia
Oct. 12: 7 p.m.: Championship Game
Girls Soccer Sectional Pairings
Class 2-A
At Plymouth
Oct. 8: 6 p.m.: Plymouth vs. Culver Academies
Oct. 10: 5 p.m.: Warsaw vs. Wawasee; 7 p.m.: NorthWood vs. Plymouth-Culver Academies winner
Oct. 12: 7 p.m.: Championship Game
Class 1-A
At Fort Wayne Luers
Oct. 7: 5 p.m.: Woodlan vs. Heritage; 7 p.m.: Fort Wayne Concordia vs. Whitko
Oct. 8: 5 p.m.: South Adams vs. Blackford; 7 p.m.: Fort Wayne Luers vs. Fort Wayne Canterbury
Oct. 10: 5 p.m.: Monday winners; 7 p.m.: Tuesday winners
Oct. 12: 1 p.m.: Championship Game