NorthWood - LaVille 2-0 (1-0)

THIRD CONSECUTIVE SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE PANTHERS

NW stepped inside the lines with the idea of scoring early and often. The first they did, the second not so much. The Newton Park stands were nicely filled on a summerlike evening. With baseball, football and basketball coaches in attendance, it was the Panther's goal to bring home some more hardware.

FIRST HALF
Seth Douwsma had no intention of starting his game slowly. Ducky took a hard shot in the very first minute of the match. The shot went over, the Lancers had their first warning. Lincoln had the ball on his right only 60 seconds later and crossed it nicely in the box. Seth made great contact with the ball for a solid shot in the goal, 1-0. It took LaVille another 7 minutes to get into the game after the quick NW goal. In the 9th, NW got to try out their set piece on a free kick but the ball missed accuracy. LaVille took its first shot at the goal in the 10th minute of play.A quick NW counter resulted in a corner in the 19th. The short corner ends up in front of Cesar's 2 inch spikes boots. His shot from inside the box misses the goal. Six minutes later, a Maliq punt lands on Lincoln's head who slips to Seth. Seth takes the hard shot but misses to the right of the LaVille goal.

HALF TIME
Coach Duerksen emphasizes the fact that if the team does not put the game away by working harder and making better passes, LaVille gets an opportunity to get right back into the game.

SECOND HALF
In the first minute of the second half, Cesar clear a ball to Seth, who beats the right defender and goes one on one on the keeper, beating him. The Panthers lead is now 2-0. A goal in the second minute of the first and the first minute of the second half give the Panthers a lead that takes the wind out of LaVille's sails for a good portion of both halfs. The entertainment value of the game is low, the result however is another championship. In the 51st a nice cross from Lincoln gets to Seth. The LaVille keeper gets to the ball, preventing NW from scoring. NorthWood gets plenty of other scoring opportunities. Near the end of regulation, freshmen Roman/Noodle and Conner Beckwith both get scoring opportunities. Conner's effort hits the crossbar. When the clock shows zero seconds left it is time to celebrate. With coach Wolfe wondering why we don't cut down the nets and coach Hoover discussing blown hand calls with coach Davis it has become obvious that Duerksen has some teaching left to do outside the classroom. With the hope that the AR/linesman on the far side will shed some weight by wednesday, the Panthers will prepare for Mishawaka Marian for Wednesday's nightcap at Newton Park.

NOTES
Brandon German sat out the game with a red card but will be eligible again for Wednesday's game.

This was NW's 9th game in the last three seasons at Newton Park.

Pizza was provided to the team after the match. Thanks to all the parents who helped with the food, snacks and drinks after the game.

Seth & German were the game MVP's. Ducky for his 2 goals, German for getting "OFF" for the coaches and the bench.