The Panthers stepped on the field well prepared and ready to execute the gameplan. And it almost worked. Frustrating Warsaw with tenacious defense in the first half and it looked like we would take Warsaw to the tea with a 0-0 score. But with only 20 ticks left on the clock, Warsaw would dribble thru our box from right to left and when arriving near the left post, the Warsaw player shot the ball to his right placing it around Eddie and Kyle and into the net. The 1-0 half time score was disappointing but not a score that affected the psyche of the team. It was clear that we were still in the game mentally. Kyle had some great saves and two of them (12th and 13th min.) certainly kept us in the game. Considering everything that took place in the first it was amazing to see how the team dealt with all the adversity. Noodle never touched a ball, he came up lame in the first minute of play and never was able to re-enter the game. Clay went down with a knee injury in the 32nd but was able to continue after half time.
At the half, we talked about being patient and waiting for our chances to even the score. We did get some chances (Taylor almost put one in in a 1v1 on the keeper in the 45th) but a couple of minor miscues in the back and a bouncing ball in the back gave the Tigers the additional three goals to put them ahead 4-0, although the last two goals came very late in the game when we were taking a little bit more chances offensively. In the 54th minute, Warsaw took a long distance shot that Kyle tipped over but the goals came in the 65th, 70th and 75th minute.
It would have been nice to play a little longer with this group and we had every intention to do so. But the #5 in the State was just too much for us but tonight we showed the crowd a mature NW soccer team where all seniors played with a lot of passion and heart, the juniors matured to the point that it is clear that they are ready to lead the team and the sophomores played smart, physical and seemed to have almost grown up overnight compared to how they played the same team just a few weeks ago. Parker, Dysken, Carter and Barahona did just a terrific job. And I do have to mention the unbelievable play by Tad and Eddie in the center of our defense.
NOTES
An announcement will be made about when to turn in uniforms etc. and when we will take the nets down.
Also watch for the announcement for the Fall Awards.
Thanks to our bus driver (but she was a lot more then that), Colleen Knepp. She has been with us for a long time and was really part of the team. We will surely miss her a lot!!!!!! This was pretty obvious when we got off the bus tonight for the last time. Good Luck to Colleen and if she would ever want to drive for us again we would surely like that!
Thanks to Lindy as well for taping games and taking pics. The game tape against Warsaw surely helped with the preparations for tonight's game.
Thanks of course to all seniors: Jacob, Collin, Connor, Vitor, Eddie, Noodle, Brandon and Josh. For the last game we had to play without Noodle,Jacob and Collin. You guys will be sorely missed, it has been a heck of ride and we had a lot of succes; we won two Sectionals, played in three Sectional Finals and this year we also won the Argos tournament. Congratulations on a succesful High School soccer career. In the last two years we have won a total of 22 games.
We will make an announcement but according to my calculations we can play "open gym" soccer on Monday October 31 (three weeks from Monday).
1 comment:
I want to thank all the players and coaches for making me feel like part of the soccer "family" for the last 4 years. I did happen to shed a few tears leaving the parking lot tonight for, what might have been, the last time driving my soccer boys. Good byes are hard to say, but I wish the best of luck to the Seniors. It has been such a great experience watching you boys grow up in to such strong men. I truly will miss all of you!
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