Sectional Final 2025 NorthWood-South Bend St. Joe 0-3 (0-2)

The pictures show the tremendous fan support we had this year.GAME REPORT : A free kick and an own goal put the Half Time score at 0-2. The Panthers play well and get some opportunities (Lucas Mullett goes 1v1 into the Huskies box but the shot hits the backstop). But we are just not able to capitalize and get that one goal we need to try and make a run at it. The second half again, starts out well but when the Huskies score a third goal, the task to at least tie becomes insurmountable. The season end for the Panthers and its 13 seniors who were able to put in a better season than last years! The final record is 10-7-2 with three wins in NLC leaving Plymouth, Wawasee and Mishawaka behind us. For the 2026 season we will have quite a few players returning but just a few with a lot of playing time experience so a lot of spots to be filled on Varsity! The team turned in their jerseys (well most of the jerseys anyway), the locker room was cleaned out and the equipment is back at the High School. The city is already working on adding landscaping to the turf field and the banners have already been taken down.....all signs that the season is over. In early November we will have Awards Night. The date and time will be announced on Remind. A special thanks to all the parents that helped out with meals, snacks, hosting a team dinner, getting everything in place for Senior Night and the early practice on Sectionals Finals day. I want to give a special shout out to the Greenlee's. They have been Captain Club reps for 6-7 years and have done so much that it made life easier for the coaches to the point that there was little to worry about because things were taken care of. They will be greatly missed.It looks like they have worked with other parents to take over so we expect this all to continue seemlessly, knowing Josh and Haley. But thanks to all the other parents who helped and contributed to all the things that needed attention, food, drinks (Dosal cooler for example)and everything else that needed attention off the pitch. We also shift focus to the off season where open field will start up again the week of December 8th. There will be an announcement on Remind about days and times. One special note: this was the first time NW played in four consecutive Sectional Finals and therefore, Drew Davis is the only NorthWood soccer player to appear in four Sectional Finals. We also want to thank the game day crew that supports the boys at home throughout the season. Thank you to AJ Risedorph, our Athletic Director, Paul Widner ATC, our trainer, Bob Staats (school admin rep and mints dealer), Randy (announcing) and Kyle (scoreboard) Cripe as well as Lee Ann from the Athletic office for taking the tickets. I'm sure I have forgot someone and I apologize for that....it is not intentional (just ignorance).

Sectionals Final - NorthWood-South Bend St. Joe

The NorthWood Sectional features the South Bend St. Joe Huskies and the host NorthWood Panthers. The game will kick off tomorrow (Saturday) at 2 pm. The winner of the NorthWood Sectional will face the winner of the Bishop Noll-Hanover Central game. The Semi Regional game will be played at either Bishop Noll or Hanover Central, depending on who wins that game.The Semi Regional game will be played on Wednesday 10/15/25.

NorthWood-Bremen 2-1 (0-1)

The second Semi Final of Sectional 18 starts late due to the fact that the preceeding match goes into a PK shootout that is eventually won by South Bend St. Joe. By the way, compared to last season when we played our Sectionals games at Culver Academies, NorthWood is the much better location to host this torunament. To start with, things are organized, Randy Cripe does a great job announcing, Kyle Cripe does great on the scoreboard, AJ is a master at escorting people off the field (so far only one Coach) and his music selection from Pearl Jam to ELO to the Alan Parsons project hits the right notes so to speak. The facility is top notch of course and the City's Parks Department does a great job getting the field ready (it has been prepped twice already this week) and also takes care of the concession stand. All in all, for visitors, coming to NorthWood is a great experience. But all that aside, what happens on the pitch is now the important thing. After taking care of Wawasee in game 1, we shift our focus to Bremen. We played Bremen in August at our Invitational and beat them 2-1 so we know this will be a tough task. Bremen kicks off and NW attacks the south goal. After some back and forth play in the first few minutes, the Panthers settle in and pressure and attack more so then the Lions. Against the run of play, it is however Bremen who in a counter attack crosses from the right corner flag area into the box. A missed mark means that a Bremen player is open. He has no problems slotting the ball into the NW goal for a 0-1 Bremen lead. This is also the HT score. The talk at the Half is fairly simple; keep playing the way we do but drop Jager back some, get free kicks in the box and anticipate balls into the offensive third. Our energy has been good for the last 6 games and the second half starts like the first. We are lively, get open when we don't have the ball and work for each other. Our efforts get rewarded in the 55th when a ball in the box finds Gusy. His best finish of the season (when we need it most) finds the net in a hurry and changes the scoreboard to 1-1! The rest of the half, both teams get opportunities but none find the back of the net. Evander comes up with some big saves and does well on (not so much deserved) free kicks and corners, punching one of these efforts out of the box. More than halfway thru the second half, we need Mr. Widner to rush on to the field to check on Isaac Bell and a Bremen player who collided heads while both were attempting to head a ball near the box. Both need attention but both would resume play later on. Isaac would end up getting stitches after the game and is cleared to play Saturday albeit with probably less headers than we are used to. The score stays 1-1 when the final whistle blows at the end of regulation. We now need to play another 2 times 7 minutes in Extra Time. Again the Panthers come out with lots of energy, unwilling to give up. This is truly a team that has improved over time, understands what needs done on the field. The passing has definately improved over the last month which has made us more dangerous and also less vulnerable defensively. In the 89" (so in the second minute of ET) a NW free kick ends up near Jager inside the box. His well placed header hits the ropes for a well deserved 2-1 lead. The crowd has been terrific and loud all night long but now goes completely berserk. They truly are the 12th man tonight! Evander has to make one more unbelievable save on the ground as the frenzied Lions try one more time to score from inside our box. Evander is Michiana Promotions' Man of the Match! Other could qualify as well as there were many heroic efforts by so many. The final score is 2-1 for the Panthers and despite having practiced PK's for weeks now, we still do not have to go to a PK shootout. The Panthers move to 10-6-2 on the season tying their win total from last year with a chance of going to 11 wins on the season Saturday. This one is for a Championship!!! Saturdays game vs. South Bend St. Joe is at Wellfield Park at 2 pm. The weather looks to be great with a forecast of sunny and 70 degrees! We are hoping for a great crowd to cheer on our boys as they play for a Sectional Championship.

NorthWood- Wawasee 6-0 (3-0)

The Panthers move on to the Sectional Semi Final tonight after taking care of business in short order. By minute 11 we are leading 3-0. The Panthers add another 3 in the second half. Jager scores four times while Brian and Braden score the other two. Next up is Bremen tonight in the late game (7pm start). The Wawasee Head Coach is ejected early on and after winning only one game all season, who can blame him for being frustrated. The Panthers move to 9-6-2 on the season. Earlier this year the Panthers defeated the Bremen Lions 2-1 so tonight's match up will be a close one, one would assume. The Panthers would love to play in another Sectional Final, especially at Wellfield Park. Tonight's kick off weather is 56 degrees (NNE winds at 7 mph), so a cool night which is perfect soccer playing weather!

2025 Sectionals

Last night SB St. Joe defeated New Prairie 2-0; tonight's first matchup will be NorthWood vs. Wawasee at 5 pm. Michiana Promotions will start their broadcast at 4:40 pm (michianapromotions.com). The 7 pm fixture is between Bremen and Glenn. Tonight's winners play tomorrow night (second game of the night Wednesday). The 5 pm game tomorrow is between Culver Academies and SB St. Joe. Winners of tomorrow night's semi final game will meet at 2 pm Saturday. All games are played at Wellfield Park, Home of NorthWood Soccer.

NorthWood - Plymouth 2-1 (2-0)

Senior Night at Wellfield Park means we always have to make adjustments. The warm up is different, announcing the starters and seniors running thru signs is another deviation. Therefore it throws off the routine and one never knows what impact that will have on the game, especially the start of the game. And tonight's game is important for a variety of reasons. First of all, this is an NLC matchup and with a win, we will finish ahaed of Plymouth, Mishawaka and Wawasee respectively. It will then give us some more All NLC spots as well. It also is important to go into the Post Season with some momentum and a win would give us 3 wins and a draw in the last four regular season games.

A nice and noisy crowd -just the way we like it- has selected Wellfield as their spot for entertainment tonight. In attendance tonight are the Principal Mr. Lambert, Asst. Principal Mr. Berg, our Athletic Director AJ Risedorph, Paul Widner, our Athletic Trainer, Randy and Kyle Cripe on the microphone and scoreboard and the Soccer Staff at Michiana Promotions (Ron, Ryan and Phil). Fortunately, NW's soccer players come back strong after a somehwat scary start. The play does go back and forth quite a bit with NW trying to build thru the middle third and the Pilgrims/Rockies (which is it?) mainly looking to attack by sending long balls over their right flank. Casin Truex holds his own on the NW left defense and thwarts most attacks with the help of the outside MF's. The scoring drought ends when Jager Bute serves Trae Brandys into the left side of the box. Trae's consequent dribble towards the goal concludes with a very composed shot into the corner and past the keeper for the 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. The Panthers collect a ball on defense in the 36th and start a counter attack that sees Jager Bute sending the ball to Isaac Bell who in turn serves Lucas Mullett. Lucas is typically in the right spot once he is inside the box and tonight is no exception His finish is sublime and gives NW a 2-0 lead.Even though experts disagree on what the most dangerous lead in soccer is -if there even is such a thing- but in general a 2-0 lead is considered just that. The Half Time discussion is partly strategy and adjustment as well as a warning that Plymouth will come out and attack in order to get a goal and get back into the game. The second act does start with some additional Plymouth pressure and attacks but we weather the storm. The best action off the field occurs when a ball is kicked high and off the field towards the NW dugout. A perfect touch to control is executed by none other then our own Bob Staats (Event Supervisor extraordinaire)as witnessed by the below video -although somewhat hard to see-. He would earn the "honorary play of the match" for his skillfull display of ball touch by Michiana Promotions! The Rockies/Pilgrims ball kickers are apparently not very impressed by Bob's performance because they get the ball and take it upfield right away and take advantage of some lackluster man marking and score the connecting goal to change the scoreboard to 2-1. The Panthers do end up with a couple of good scoring opportunities. In the 71st, Jager dribbles a ball alongside the top of the 18 and takes a shot that hits the crossbar. And the 74th minute of play sees the same Jager go one on one with the Plymouth stopper but his effort to chip the ball over the keeper also sees the ball just go over the woodwork. The last 13 minutes are somewhat nervewrecking but the Panthers hold on to the smallest of margins and cross the finish line with the 2-1 lead. Evander Magana has a stellar performance, especially in the second half and is selected by Michiana Promotions as the Player of the Match. The win propels the Panthers to 8-6-2 (3-4 NLC) and guarantees another winning season!! The JV falls to Plymouth 0-1. Their final record is 5-7-2. The Varsity gets today off and will be back at Wellfield on Thursday (hopefully after the Cubs have advanced to the next round in the NL play offs). Next week Sectionals start that is hosted by NorthWood. Game days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The schedule for games and ball boys is listed in a post below.

Sectionals Fixtures - hosted by NorthWood

2025 Sectional Draw (at NorthWood)

Not a bad draw for NW; game 1 to be played next Monday, Games 2 & 3 on Tuesday, games 4 & 5 on Wednesday and the Final a week from Saturday.

New Prairie - NorthWood 0-1 (0-1)

The day starts off on a positive note with the JV winning their game 0-2 with nice goals from Cam and Abe (header and free kick respectively). It moves the JV to 5-6-2 on the season with a chance to go 500 for the year! After the fastest National Anthem ever, the Panthers get introduced and almost all get introduced correctly with the exception being Jager Booteh!

Before kick off, it becomes clear that our officiating crew today is probably not going to impress. Just by looking at their cars, it feels like decision making is not their strong point. The game kicks off under sunny skies and comfortable temperatures. It would only take 9 minutes to figure out that the center ref will probably make the top 10 worst referees of the season. On a NW corner, Ben Bodach takes his position in front of the keeper. The NP keeper seems to have an issue with that and elbows Ben. The center ref sees this and comes over and gets into the keeper's face -competely unneccesary- before issuing a yellow caution. About five minutes later, Jager slides a ball nicely to Brian inside the box. His finish is perfect as he slots the ball past the New Prairie keeper, 0-1. Many calls from the center official are dubious at best but none more so then the call near the end of the game when Lucas gets leveled in the box (as we have seen numerous times since the game on Hudl video) and the whistle gets blown right away. For a PK, everyone assumes but nothing is less true when he points to the spot of the foul for a ....... foul on Lucas. In the video you can see the relief by the defenders and coach! Just before that NW escaped a NP attack where a shot gets deflected in our box but still stopped by Evander. 0-1 is the Final result which means that the Panthers are on a three game unbeaten streak going into Senior Night with two wins and a tie. The Varsity is 7-6-2 on the season with a chance to go to 8-6-2 going into Sectionals if we beat Plymouth.

NorthWood - Mishawaka Marian 0-0 (0-0)

The visitors are coming off a strong performance against Penn where they lost 5-4 in a PK shoot out. Our officials look like flamingos and late in the game make a decision that you would think only a flamingo could make. The Panthers start out with lots of energy, great passing and overall good soccer. Early on, Jager brings a ball into the right corner and places the ball behind Gusy but in front of Brian. His shot misses to the left of the frame but the build up is promising. Marian has turned into a long ball attacking team which seems odd considering they seem to have the talent to build up thru the middle. The Panthers keep battling and keep passing well and use a combination of possession and counterattacking long passing. The second half looks much the same as the first where both teams get opportunities to score but fail to do so. Gusy gets closest to scoring when a cross from the right gets cleared by a Marian knee just before he can push the ball over the line. The Marian keeper is suspect at best and gives us some secondary chances at scoring. With about 13 minutes left on the clock, a Knight attacker penetrates the NW box and after being barely touched in the back by a NW defender, goes down very easily. The Center ref, who has the name of giving up soft PK's of the flopping variety, points to the spot. Evander dives to his right and stops the PK. The pink AR watching over the PK has the center ref retake the PK for Evander coming off his line too early. That call is also seldom made. The same player has to re-take the PK. This time he misses again and shoots the ball way over. The last 12 minutes are frantic and goes back and forth until the clock runs down to 0:00. Final 0-0, a fair result and a good result for the Panthers but more importantly, a very well played game. It was a good performance for 80 minutes! The Varsity moves to 6-6-2 on the season. The JV loses 0-2 and slides to 4-8-2. The next game is the away fixture at New Prairie tomorrow.

Mishawaka Cavemen - NorthWood 0-2 (0-1)

Panthers move to 6-6-1 on the season after goals from Gusy (9") and Isaac Bell on a corner in the 60". A very wet pitch is apparently the perfect field condition for Isaac Bell as he is involved in both goals.

NorthWood- #7 (3A) Goshen 0-3 (0-2)

A tough, skilled opponent with State Championship aspirations defeats the Panthers. Some heroic efforst by GK Evander Magana are needed to keep the scoring at 3 while some scoring opportunities for NW do not find the back of the net. The Panthers fall to 5-6-1. Drew and Brian are back in the lineup which is a positive on numerous fronts. Brian gives us speed and offensive threats, Drew gives us solid distribution, calm and defensive support and with both of them available, the team has now more depth then at any other time during the season. The JV loses a heartbreaker by giving up a PK very late in the game. Practice today at Wellfield will end at 5 pm and with no game tomorrow for the Varsity, it means a rare weekend off. The JV however is right back at it and again faces Goshen in the JV Tournament tomorrow morning. Time for some revenge. First game at Goshen is at 9 am, second game at Noon.

#18 Warsaw - NorthWood 5-0 (4-0)

Varsity and JV both loose 5-0. Varsity record is 5-5-1. Next up is 3A # 7 Goshen at home Thursday.

NorthWood-Trinity Greenlawn 4-1 (4-1)

Trinity Greenlawn wastes no time scoring when they cross and blast a ball past Evander before the first minute is up! One attack, one cross, one shot, one goal. It takes a few minutes for the Panthers to get in their rhytm. In the 14th, Casin sends a long ball from the back that reaches Gusy who somehow turns and volleys the ball past the TG GK to draw us even at 1-1. Only 4 minutes later, NW has another chance. Jagers' effort ends near Sammy after a deflection. Mr. Hoover does not disappoint and whips the ball in for his second goal of the season.Trinity has a breakaway counter in the 21st that could have changed the course of the game but a determined save by Evander averts disaster. In the 24th, Ben Bodach delivers a long ball which turns into an assist when Jager slots the ball past the keeper for the 3-1 lead. Scoring is not yet complete in the first half becuase a handball in the Trinity box gives Jager a chance for a brace. Just like Drew Davis a few games ago, Jager puts the PK away, this time in the opposite corner from where Drew scored; 4-1. We expect Trinity to pressure more in the second half but that never materializes. NW makes contact with the crossbar twice in the second half (61" Jager header, 63" Paul with a cross-shot combo). The rest of the half is uneventful and the Panthers leave Wellfield with the second win of the week. With a 5-4-1 record in their back pocket, the team travels to Waky for a great Taco and Quesedilla meal at the Dosal compound. Thanks to the Dosal's for hosting the event. It was very much appreciated!! Next up is the home game at Warsaw tomorrow (Tuesday). The Saturday game was played without the injured Drew Davis. Hopefully we will get some good news on his injury this week.

ECA - NorthWood 1-1 (0-1)

Talon Field has the worst game clock in Northern Indiana and the strangest Press Box but some of the best lighting around. The Panthers start out strong and full of energy. The guys fly to the ball and are pressing strong and smart. Initially we end up with some opportunities with a couple of shots from Gusy (first one in the 3rd minute), Jager and Isaac but we have to wait for the 28th minute before we see our first (and what would turn out to be our only) goal when Jager crosses a ball to Cole "the Bus" Huff who scores after having come into the game only minutes before that. We finish the half strong with quite a few good passing strings , good energy and pressure. At the half we talk about the changes ECA will bring when it comes to more pressure on us as well as trying to bring more offensive numbers which in turn should open things up in their defense for us. The second half indeed starts with ECA pressuring the Panthers more. We lose the ball more often and also lose a bit of grip on the game. Officiating is abysmal in the second half. After barely utilizing his instrument in the first half, the center ref now has discovered his whistle and blows it more often even though the decisions are fairly dubious. Ignoring his AR on the far side for most of the game, we even see a discussion between the two where it is obvious that the AR is getting increasingly frustrated with being completely ignored. The center arbiter is pretty much unaware and oblivious and probably not worthy of being a center for a High School game. It is his performance that will turn the contest more contentious near the end because the decisions are hard to understand.In the 65th minute of play, Cole gets another chance at a goal at close range but neglects to make good contact with the ball (aka a whiff). In the 71st, ECA ties the game on a effort inside the box. Jager ends up with a yellow while time runs out for blocking a free kick that should have been awarded to NW.The final score is a disappointing 1-1. Despite playing well, we are unable to press much in the last 15 minutes of the game. We had our chances but were unable to put the ball behind the ECA GK. The Varsity's record is 4-4-1 going into the Trinity home game tomorrow. That game will be at 1:30 pm. The JV will be a forfeit win for NW (so NO JV game tomorrow). The JV defeats ECA 0-1 and is 2-4-1 and after tomorrow's forfeit their record will be 3-4-1.

NorthWood - Wawasee 6-1 (1-0)

Two refs for the Varsity only contest illustrates that arbiters are hard to come by these days although most have been pretty good so quality obviously better that quantity. After a small delay with the sound system, we get underway at 6:07 pm. While possessing the ball the majority of the time, we have to wait until the 28th minute before we see the ball pass the goal line. An Isaac Bell throw in finds Gusy Dosal in the box who foot punches the ball into the ropes. Despite crisp passing with nice pass strings, no more goals get added before the half. At the half, one of the tpics discussed is to take balls into the box while dribbling. The 4-4-2 looks organized even though the opponent is not very dangerous offensively. Five minutes into the second act, Kyler gets the ball on the left flank and crosses it on the ground into the box. Isaac is the recipient who by putting the ball in the back of the net, is involved in both the first and second goal (he would be named Man of the Match by Michiana Promotions during their broadcast of the match). Only two minutes later Kyler Fike again crosses the ball into the box. This time the ball goes into Jager Bute's direction who cleverly, dummy's the ball. The ball gets into the 6 and at the ensuing melee, Drew touches the ball and it ends up in the goal for a 3-0 lead. When Wawasee forces us on the left flank defensively, a mental breakdwon gives the Warriors an opportunity for a shot that finds the net; 3-1. The Wawasee bench errupts and is hoping to get back in the game.Fortunately, the Panthers get back into focused game mode and Gusy scores his second goal of the game after a nice Jager assist.In the 59th, Drew Davis gets leveled in the box and the referee has no choice but to point at the 12 yard spot. Drew slots the PK to his right and out of the Wawasee GK's reach for a four goal lead, 5-1. Only two minutes later does a nice pass make it to Brayden inside the box in what looks to be an obvious goal scoring opportunity but instead he decides to lay the ball of to Sammy inside the 6. Sammy one touches the ball on the frame and this goal is the final one of the evening. We should have had another PK after Gusy gets taken down near the 12 but the center ref decides to ignore it. Gusy does not get a shot at a hat trick and has to be satisfied with a brace today. The Panthers move to 4-4 on the season (1-2 NLC). Next up is ECA tomorrow at Elkhart Christian.

South Bend Adams -NorthWood 5-0 (2-0)

The Panthers fall to 3-4 on the season with a 5-0 defeat at School Field. The JV loses 4-1 and is now 1-4-1 on the season. The Varsity has their next game at home vs. Wawasee today (Tuesday 9/9/25) at 6 pm. Wawasee does not have a JV so our JV will have a regular practice.

Lakeland-NorthWood 2-3 (0-0)

A balanced first half with only one good opportunity for NW (38" Jager Bute goes around the keeper and hits the cross bar), demands an adjustment at the half. The adjustment Kyle makes is to press the slow build out from the back on the Lakers' side. This pays dividend three minutes into the second act as the keeper leaves a clear short and Jager decidedly scores the first goal, 0-1 NW. Another press play on the Lakeland defense in the 55th results in the Panthers (Isaac Bell) recovering the ball near the box. The ensuing dribble from Lucas Mullett and consequent shot lands in the ropes for a 0-2 NorthWood lead.A mere 5 minutes later (60") Jager takes a ball on the right flank and crosses it on the ground into the box. Brayden is in the right spot at the right time and taps the ball over the line for what looks to be an easy second half; 0-3. A 63rd minute fould outside Evander's 18, gives the Lakers a straight on free kick. It sails into the upper left; 1-3. A foul by Traey on the Lakeland left offensive third, gives the Blue Men group another free kick which also sails into the upper left with 3.3 seconds left on the clock. A 2-3 final is not very indicative on how the second half felt. The game was out of reach for the Lakers even though the final makes it look like a close game, which it was not. The Panthers are now 3-3 on the season and will face South Bend Adams at South Bend's School Field at 9 (!!!) am Saturday. This is a game starting time change! The JV match will follow at the conclusion of the Varsity game.