On the menu for the tournament for this year's rendition of the Soccer Showcase were Fishers, Blackford and Northwestern.
NORTHWOOD - FISHERS
The first game of the tournament has a nervous and apprehensive start. It is obvious a lot of the guys have not played together. Some players are trying to get used to new positions.Cody makes two incredible saves in the beginning stages of the game. Fifteen players are on the tourney team; Cody Cripe (GK), David Eschelman, Brayton Taylor, Brandon Barahona, Bennet Parker, Dennyz Barahona, Derrick Parker, Carter Beebe, Carter Dyksen, Connor Miller, Dillon Weldy, Matt Pippinger, Ethan Craven, Antonio Lopez and Isaac Bowers.
Fishers scores in the 23rd for a 1-0 lead that would hold until the half. Our second half is better defensively despite giving up another two goals (45' and 53')for the final 0-3 loss. The tournament serves its purpose because it gives the coaches an insight on what we need to work on, what we need to change and we get a chance to see what the players are capable off.
NORTHWOOD-BLACKFORD
Again, it takes us a while to get started but once we do, we decisively take control of the match. Beebe scores number one in the 20th (1-0), Brandon in the 26th (2-0) and freshman Antonio in the 28th (3-0). The games at the Showcase are 35 minute halves. Two minutes into the second half it is again Beebe who finishes and puts NorthWood ahead 4-0. In the 50th minute, Ethan Craven gets the ball in the middle of the Blackford half, and takes a long distance shot that ends up high in the goal for the final score, 5-0. It would end up being the NorthWood goal of the Soccer Showcase.
NORTHWOOD-NORTHWESTERN
A sluggish and non-inspired NorthWood gives up a goal in the 15th (0-1). In the 32nd, Dyksen defends a ball well inside the box but a Northwestern midfielder trips over Carter's feet after the ball was cleared. The referee (well, he wore a shirt that made him look like one)pointed to the white dot on the 12. The PK goes in the left corner (no chance for Cody). Coach Duerksen tells the team that if they execute the adjustments suggested by him, the team will walk off the field with a 3-2 win. Almost prophetic......... Only 5 minutes into the second half it is Beebe who revenges a couple of first time misses with a nice goal to cut the lead in half (1-2). And he duplicates his performance with a very pretty goal three minutes later (great first touch and cut and solid finish). With the game level at 2, NorthWood presses to try and take over the lead. They do so in the 67th when the Northwestern GK kicks a ball just outside the box to Brayton who instantly kicks the ball back at the goal. The keeper, who is too far out and not prepared to stop a shot that quickly, lets it roll into the goal for the first NorthWood lead of the game (3-2). An unfortunate trip from behind in the box by NorthWood gives Northwestern its second PK of the day. This one goes in the right corner for the final score; 3-3.
All in all a succesful weekend of soccer. Defensively we showed improvement but did give up 6 goals in 3 matches. Indeed enough to work on but also enough to work with. We saw improvement from game to game and for the ten years that NortWood has participated in the showcase, we never have left the tourney with a losing record.
