NorthWood-Plymouth 1-4 (0-1)

A large crowd shows up on a warm night for the last home game of the season and the last game at what has been our home for over 20 years. Two soccer games, senior night festivities and a team meal afterwards will make for a worthy au revoir to our soccer home. The JV game starts late due to the Plymouth team bus arriving about 20 minutes behind schedule. The JV loses its game 1-2 after scoring the first goal. Nonetheless a good effort and a respectable season. The JV's final record is 6-7-1. The Senior Nigh announcements and introductions are done by our announcer Randy Cripe, the National Anthem is a spelendid rendition from our own Mason Mast. And then it is time to start the 2017 seniors' last home game. The opponent, ranked 14th in the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association poll in 3A, are the Plymouth Pilgrims who come rolling into Nappanee undefeated on the year at 11-0-3. So, a monumental task but we feel that if we play hard for 80, we have a shot at an upset. FIRST HALF- Mason gets his first start since the Argos tourney where he injured his ankle. He holds out for a good 10 minutes or so. He plays well and the hope is that he can give us even more time Thursday and next Monday. In the 9th minute Juan goes up for a header and makes contact with the ball as well as a Plymouth midfielder. Both have to come off but Juan needs attention from Mr. Widner. The butterfly band aids hold the skin together but it will require stitches after the game. In the 16th, Plymouth scores to go ahead 0-1. The Panthers dig in and show some quick and dangerous counter attacking style soccer. In the 25th, one of those counters has Landon taking a great shot that needs a save from the surprisingly agile but beefy keeper. The rebound lands near Lukas who takes a good crack at the ball but the keeper once again saves it. In the 32nd, Juan -now back on the field after a second treatment from Paul- passes a nice ball to Landon. From the left side of the goal, Landon takes a great volley shot that looks to go in but at the last second the Plymouth gets a hand on it to prevent the ball from going in. HALF TIME- Focus at the half is on how well we have played, that we are playing even if not better then the 14th ranked team and that we need to dig deep and leave it all on the field. SECOND HALF- Only 2 minutes into the second act, a Plymouth attack turns into their second goal. But NW keeps playing tough defense, high pressure and counter attacking soccer. It pays off in the 54th as a nice attack from the right flank gets to Juan. He turns and takes a shot from about 28 out with the outside of his right foot. The ball goes to the left but swings back in to the right and over the keeper and into the net; 1-2! In the 63rd, a ball over our defense ends up in front of a Plymouth forward who scores the 1-3. But the Panthers keep fighting back. In the 77th, Juan places a free kick from the left to the far post. Matt heads the ball and nearly scores. A 78 minute PK for the Pilgrims determines the final score, 1-4. A 1-2 score might have been more justified and more reflective of the game. But all in all a great effort against a good team. NOTES- First of all a S/O to Corbin Taylor!!! Today's JV practice is from 3:30-5 (adjusted time). The Varsity leaves at 6 for their 6:30-7:30 practice in Goshen. Tomorrow we travel to Bethany Christian. Friday is a normal end of the week practice. The practice that was scheduled for Saturday has been canceled due to the minor knocks and injuries we are dealing with; it will hopefully give everyone some time to recuperate before our important game on Monday vs. West Noble at Wawasee. That game is slated to start at 5 pm.