Warsaw’s Alex Koontz, far right, celebrates with teammates after Koontz scored the first goal in the Tigers 3-0 win against Fort Wayne Northrop Monday evening. (Photos by Mike Deak)

WARSAW – It’s been an issue for his club before, but Warsaw girls soccer head coach Peter Lucht will still take the result. A slow start for his club still afforded a resounding 3-0 win Monday over Fort Wayne Northrop.

“We’ve had that issue a few times this year, and it showed up again for a bit tonight,” Lucht said of the slow start where Warsaw had just two shots on target in the first 27 minutes of the game. “I think some of it was missing a couple players from the normal lineup, and some of it was just mental.”

Warsaw’s Mariah Rivera is challenged by Northrop’s Antonia Kringis.

Warsaw did carry a 1-0 lead into the half courtesy of a booming free kick that had eyes. Off the foot of Alex Koontz in the 28th minute, the 35-yard launch kept carrying right over Northrop keeper Eindra Maung’s head. A desperate clearing attempt sent the ball into the top netting for the only goal of the half.

Northrop, which did not have a single shot attempt until the 43rd minute of the game, put plenty of pressure on Tiger keeper Chloe Snow as the second half unfolded. A whistling shot in the 45th from Jacianna Eldridge beat Snow, but banged off the far post. Eldridge would find space again a minute later and forced Snow into a diving save.

Snow would leave the game in the 53rd minute when a Northrop free kick was sent into the box and a melee for the bounding ball had Snow pounce, but bang into an errant body. After staying down for several minutes, Snow was subbed out, and Greer Smith entered the net.

Smith would help cap her first varsity shutout – combined with Snow – as the Tiger defense held Northrop without a shot on target the final 27 minutes. Snow made four saves in her 53 minutes in net.

Julie Frazzetta sends a cross in for Warsaw.

“That back line did great,” said Lucht, who already had starters Rachel McClelland and Anna Sullivan on the bench with injuries. “Breck (Jackson) and Alex (Koontz) teamed up very well. I think our team wanted to do better in possession, and that would have helped with the momentum a little.

“I also think when Chloe went down, that was a little bit of a rallying cry to galvanize. I don’t think they wanted to put Greer in a tough spot.”

Warsaw got a gift goal in the 57th minute. A cross from Elizabeth Van Wormer found target Anna Grill, but as the ball deflected off Grill, Anna Reimink was there to tuck away the loose ball for a 2-0 lead. In the 78th, a Warsaw throw in deep in Northrop territory somehow made it into the penalty box unattended. A poor clearance gave Grill a chance, which was true for the final strike of the match.

Maung did an admirable job in net, making 13 saves including a trio of close range stops off a brilliant header from Grill and one-on-ones with Mariah Rivera and Van Wormer.

Warsaw moves to 10-0 on the season with the win. Northrop falls to 4-3-1 overall.

The JV game had both keepers make great saves to preserve a 0-0 draw. In the 77th minute Warsaw keeper Paige Adkins made a point blank save on a Northrop shot inside the six-yard box. Just two minutes later and two minutes to time, Bruins goalie Adia Wolf saved a shot off the foot of Katiana Rodriguez, who had the angle, forcing Wolf to make the game-saving stop.

Warsaw will visit Columbia City Thursday.

Fort Wayne Northrop goalkeeper Eindra Maung makes a sliding save before Warsaw’s Sydney Weideman can reach the ball. Defending for Northrop is Katalina Khanhphane.