Stump, Patino and Douwsma in action during the Clay-NorthWood Regional Semi Final.
What could go right on a 40 some degree night with pouring rain, no balls and no ball boys? Answer: NorthWood. The boys soccer team came back from a one goal deficit to force OT and a PK shootout. The win after the PK shootout puts the Panthers in the Regional Championship game on Saturday October 13 against Elkhart Central at noon at Newton Park.
FIRST HALF
Clay came out with a threatening quick pass to their left corner. After the goal went over the endline, the Colonials would take their first of 17 corners. The NW defense cleared the ball to start their own attack. In the 6th minutes a nice passing combination from Edgar to Seth ended up in front of Rogelio's feet who was unable to convert the opportunity. In the 12th minute, Ducky had a shot that went wide of the goal for the second NW threat of the night. For the first 30 minutes of the game, the game was an even game with opportunities for both teams. In the 32nd minute a Clay counter ended up in the NorthWood box, the ball was not cleared and ended up in front of Clay's Parker Durham. His shot on the frame got by Mike "Holy" Schmitt, 1-0 Clay. After a few minutes, the Panthers regained their composure and kept playing hard for the remainder of the half. 50/50 balls were won in regular fashion and the defense played a very organized first half.
HALF TIME
The half time speech consisted of telling the team to stick with the gameplan and again they were told by Coach Duerksen that we are a 2nd half team who, if they would keep playing hard and stick to our strategy, would come away with a win. A win would make NorthWood soccer history.
SECOND HALF
The second half started much like the first half had ended. Both teams played good soccer despite the awful field conditions. Despite the nice set up at Newton Park, it is painfully obvious that soccer specialists were not consulted when that part of the complex was put together but more about that later.
In the 51st minute Ducky took a great shot that just missed and only minutes later, Micah Shaw had a great cross that went thru the box. The Panthers were starting to take over the game. The very well conditioned men in white and red were slowly but surely keeping the ball on the Clay side of the field. One breakaway in the 57th minute gave Clay #17 a good opportunity just outside the box but his hard shot was saved by Schmitt. The action shifted back to the NW offensive third of the field where a foul was committed, resulting in a NW indirect free kick just outside the 18. The coaches called for the set piece that would look like a confused Seth doing a fake lay off to one side and then passing it to the other. Again the set piece worked to perfection when Edgar took the shot to the left of the wall, hitting the ropes, 1-1! In the 73rd minute a two on two (St. Germain and Rogelio) versus two Clay defenders, resulted in St. Germain lobbing the ball over a Colonial defender, ending up right in front of Rogelio. With only the Clay GK standing between him and the goal, he took a shot then unfortunately missed accuracy. And while both teams played hard on the (yes, German) glistening grass, the score remained 1-1 in regulation time. After the whistle blew, it was time for two 7 minutes halves of OT.
OT
It was a situation the Panthers had wanted to be in all year. Being the better conditioned team, the Panthers figured on getting some opportunities in overtime. If no goals were scored, we sure liked our chances in a PK shooutout. With the temperatures still hovering around the 44 degree mark and the rain still coming down, the loud proud NorthWood crowd was cheering their team on. The first half of OT seemed to go Clay's way. The Panthers were not able to create too many opportunities and gave away numerous corners. NorthWood regained control in the second half of OT. By this time AD Norm Sellers and Principal Maugel were on the sideline cheering on the team as well. Despite some chances for NorthWood, the score would remain 1-1. It was time for a penalty kick shootout.
PK SHOOTOUT
NW won the toss and wanted Clay to take the first penalty. The first PK went wide to the right, 0-0. Edgar took his usual PK, 0-1. Clay's Kastner scored Clay's PK, 1-1. Micah took another one of his solid shots, 1-2. Colonial King scored his PK, 2-2. It was Ducky's turn and with a great shot th score was 2-3. Clay's next PK went over the goal, still 2-3. With a score, NW would win. Robby Burns' pk was a great shot to the right but the Clay keeper made a great diving save, still 2-3. Clay's Alex Grandin took his turn and scored to tie the game 3-3 with one PK left to be taken. It was all up to Rogelio. In the Elkhart Truth he was quoted as saying: " I was nervous, but I was thinking I could do it." The rest is genuine history, Rogelio scores, NorthWood wins and moves on to the Regional Championship game for the first time in school history. The Panthers are hoping for a large crowd on saturday. The weather forecast is for sunny skies with temps around the 64 degree mark.
COMMENTS
Amazing how the Elkhart Truth still was not able to get the team's picture (sectional champs) in todays edition. They did not seem to have any trouble getting pictures(2) of the ELKHART Central game in. I'm sure they have a valid excuse for it. I guess we will just have to win saturday and force them to get our pictures in the "Truth".
How good did those brats taste?
How about the support the team is getting. Not only do we see the loud fans from the football and girls soccer teams but the AD and principal were there and the Superintendent stopped by practice the day before the game. And not to mention former players.
The crowd ran onto the field to celebrate the win after Rogelio's winning PK and how nice would it be to repeat that on Saturday.
I talked about the awful soccer setup at the field. It is amazing to me that the concrete in front of the bleachers and the scoreboard are so close to the field. Especially since this field does not drain well at all. Players are slipping and sliding all the time. Edgar took the worst of it when he slid off the field and hit a steel handrail that is situated about 4 1/2 feet off the field. He had to leave the game late into the second half. Dr. Maugel was able to get him into good enough shape to at least take a PK. Thanks for your help.
Channel 22 said in their sports segment that "NorthWood took care of Clay" while FOX 28 stated that Clay dominated but NW came away with the win. The SB Tribune had a nice article on the game and FOX28 showed some nice shots of the game including the game huddle.
ETruth.com does have pictures of the game on their website. I have posted all three here.
"Carry me home" is becoming the theme song for the team and the customary "Larry, Larry, Larry" could be heard as the bus turned onto Woodview Drive.
FIRST HALF
Clay came out with a threatening quick pass to their left corner. After the goal went over the endline, the Colonials would take their first of 17 corners. The NW defense cleared the ball to start their own attack. In the 6th minutes a nice passing combination from Edgar to Seth ended up in front of Rogelio's feet who was unable to convert the opportunity. In the 12th minute, Ducky had a shot that went wide of the goal for the second NW threat of the night. For the first 30 minutes of the game, the game was an even game with opportunities for both teams. In the 32nd minute a Clay counter ended up in the NorthWood box, the ball was not cleared and ended up in front of Clay's Parker Durham. His shot on the frame got by Mike "Holy" Schmitt, 1-0 Clay. After a few minutes, the Panthers regained their composure and kept playing hard for the remainder of the half. 50/50 balls were won in regular fashion and the defense played a very organized first half.
HALF TIME
The half time speech consisted of telling the team to stick with the gameplan and again they were told by Coach Duerksen that we are a 2nd half team who, if they would keep playing hard and stick to our strategy, would come away with a win. A win would make NorthWood soccer history.
SECOND HALF
The second half started much like the first half had ended. Both teams played good soccer despite the awful field conditions. Despite the nice set up at Newton Park, it is painfully obvious that soccer specialists were not consulted when that part of the complex was put together but more about that later.
In the 51st minute Ducky took a great shot that just missed and only minutes later, Micah Shaw had a great cross that went thru the box. The Panthers were starting to take over the game. The very well conditioned men in white and red were slowly but surely keeping the ball on the Clay side of the field. One breakaway in the 57th minute gave Clay #17 a good opportunity just outside the box but his hard shot was saved by Schmitt. The action shifted back to the NW offensive third of the field where a foul was committed, resulting in a NW indirect free kick just outside the 18. The coaches called for the set piece that would look like a confused Seth doing a fake lay off to one side and then passing it to the other. Again the set piece worked to perfection when Edgar took the shot to the left of the wall, hitting the ropes, 1-1! In the 73rd minute a two on two (St. Germain and Rogelio) versus two Clay defenders, resulted in St. Germain lobbing the ball over a Colonial defender, ending up right in front of Rogelio. With only the Clay GK standing between him and the goal, he took a shot then unfortunately missed accuracy. And while both teams played hard on the (yes, German) glistening grass, the score remained 1-1 in regulation time. After the whistle blew, it was time for two 7 minutes halves of OT.
OT
It was a situation the Panthers had wanted to be in all year. Being the better conditioned team, the Panthers figured on getting some opportunities in overtime. If no goals were scored, we sure liked our chances in a PK shooutout. With the temperatures still hovering around the 44 degree mark and the rain still coming down, the loud proud NorthWood crowd was cheering their team on. The first half of OT seemed to go Clay's way. The Panthers were not able to create too many opportunities and gave away numerous corners. NorthWood regained control in the second half of OT. By this time AD Norm Sellers and Principal Maugel were on the sideline cheering on the team as well. Despite some chances for NorthWood, the score would remain 1-1. It was time for a penalty kick shootout.
PK SHOOTOUT
NW won the toss and wanted Clay to take the first penalty. The first PK went wide to the right, 0-0. Edgar took his usual PK, 0-1. Clay's Kastner scored Clay's PK, 1-1. Micah took another one of his solid shots, 1-2. Colonial King scored his PK, 2-2. It was Ducky's turn and with a great shot th score was 2-3. Clay's next PK went over the goal, still 2-3. With a score, NW would win. Robby Burns' pk was a great shot to the right but the Clay keeper made a great diving save, still 2-3. Clay's Alex Grandin took his turn and scored to tie the game 3-3 with one PK left to be taken. It was all up to Rogelio. In the Elkhart Truth he was quoted as saying: " I was nervous, but I was thinking I could do it." The rest is genuine history, Rogelio scores, NorthWood wins and moves on to the Regional Championship game for the first time in school history. The Panthers are hoping for a large crowd on saturday. The weather forecast is for sunny skies with temps around the 64 degree mark.
COMMENTS
Amazing how the Elkhart Truth still was not able to get the team's picture (sectional champs) in todays edition. They did not seem to have any trouble getting pictures(2) of the ELKHART Central game in. I'm sure they have a valid excuse for it. I guess we will just have to win saturday and force them to get our pictures in the "Truth".
How good did those brats taste?
How about the support the team is getting. Not only do we see the loud fans from the football and girls soccer teams but the AD and principal were there and the Superintendent stopped by practice the day before the game. And not to mention former players.
The crowd ran onto the field to celebrate the win after Rogelio's winning PK and how nice would it be to repeat that on Saturday.
I talked about the awful soccer setup at the field. It is amazing to me that the concrete in front of the bleachers and the scoreboard are so close to the field. Especially since this field does not drain well at all. Players are slipping and sliding all the time. Edgar took the worst of it when he slid off the field and hit a steel handrail that is situated about 4 1/2 feet off the field. He had to leave the game late into the second half. Dr. Maugel was able to get him into good enough shape to at least take a PK. Thanks for your help.
Channel 22 said in their sports segment that "NorthWood took care of Clay" while FOX 28 stated that Clay dominated but NW came away with the win. The SB Tribune had a nice article on the game and FOX28 showed some nice shots of the game including the game huddle.
ETruth.com does have pictures of the game on their website. I have posted all three here.
"Carry me home" is becoming the theme song for the team and the customary "Larry, Larry, Larry" could be heard as the bus turned onto Woodview Drive.
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