FINAL BLOG :Season Over; NW loses to West Noble in Sectional first round

The Panthers look sluggish and not as energized as they have throughout most of the season. Our passing is off and not very crisp. Not sure if nerves or pressure play a role but it does not seem we play our style tonight. The half time score is 0-0 and the Chargers receive a red card in the first half. Arbitration is not very good and certainly not consistent but not to blame for the loss. After trying to make some adjustments at the half, it is West Noble who scores first in the 43rd even though being down to 10 men. An Andre to Kayden pass ends in a nice slotted ball into the net by Kayden (54"), 1-1. Momentum again switches after Nick fouls WN # 9 Torres (who also scored their first goal). West Noble scores the PK in the 60th and despite some late game pressure, we do not score. We have chances all the way up to 12 ticks left on the game clock but the ball does not find the net and therefore this record breaking season comes to an early and abrupt end. The Panthers finish the season 13-3-1 with great senior leadership from Trent Edwards, Skyler Duerksen, Jerson Sanchez, Angel Pantoja and Jason Weldy.

Can you spot 3 scouts at a recent West Noble Game?

Coach Duerksen names starting XI

Follow the game

If you are unable to attend the game tonight in person, there are two ways to follow the 5 pm match vs West Noble. Froggy 102.7 FM is doing the game with Craig Wallen and I think David Eshelman. You can watch the game streaming online on broadcastsport.net with play by play by Ryan Mattern.

Post Season Game Day #1

At 5 pm today, our post season kicks off. The opponent is the other ranked team in our Sectional, West Noble. West Noble is ranked #15 in 2A while the Panthers are ranked # 10. The Chargers compete in the NECC. Their record is 13-3 and they went 7-0 in conference play. Henry Torres (#9) is by far their biggest threat. He scored a hat trick in last week's game vs Westview (3-0 W). He is a clinical finisher who scored twice against us last year in the Angola Sectional semi final. West Noble's losses come against Goshen (NW result 1-0 W), Northridge (5-1 L, NW result also a L) and Bethany Christian (1-0 L, NW result 2-2). The other 2 common opponents were Wawasee and Lakeland which were wins for West Noble (same for NW). Their signature win is vs. Elkhart Central (3-2). West Noble drew Ft Wayne Carroll 1-1 but got a forfeit win. Lakeland and Angola play at 7 pm (or following our match if there is OT/PK shoot out). The winner of today's games face off at 5 pm Wednesday for a spot in the Sectional Final (Saturday at 2 pm). The theme for today's game for the NW Student Section is "WHITEOUT". We are hoping for a large fan turnout in support of our boys tonight! The weather will be perfect (68 and sunny). We have had a great regular season, setting many records. But starting tonight, all teams are 0-0.Let's go 1-0 !!!

Bethany - NorthWood 2-2 (2-1)

The JV finishes its season with a half game tonight. Every player on the roster gets playing time even though we only play 35 minutes. Despite the 0-0 draw, the game counts as a win because shortened games by a host count as a forfeit. Therefore the official season record for our Junior Varsity 6-5-2; a winning season! Coach Kyle Dijkstra coaches the JV tonight in Seth's absence. Congratulations JV on a good season! Speaking of winning seasons, the Varsity was assured one weeks ago! Tonight's game has an early start and fortunately for us, Senior Night won't start until after the Varsity contest so we don't have to sit thru another Senior Night -again-. FIRST HALF After introductions which don't go exactly smooth ("assisted by Coach Douche-ma"...what???), it is time to shake hands because at BCHS, the National Anthem is not played before sporting events. A boat load of ball boys and girls surround the very crowned pitch with 5 game balls ready to prevent any type of time wasting. The lights are on and brighten most of the field except for the corners. The Panthers don't have their usual quick start although a Sebastian free kick in the 4th does find Jerson's forehead but the early opportunity does not make it past the goal line. NW plays a little sloppy and a minute later, the Bruins take advantage of that. A negative trifecta with one player out of position, another too late at the ball and the keeper too far to his left, leaving the goal exposed, turns into an easy opportunity and subsequent goal for the Bruins, 1-0. It takes the Panthers about another 5 minutes before we actually start combining and playing the game we know how to. A very nice long ball from Trent Edwards in the 15" (the man will run his rear end off all night long earning him the MVP of the night) makes it to Andre. His fantastic touch -he doesn't try to kill it- goes to the right out of the keepers reach. Luckily for the Bethany keeper, the ball finds the woodwork and comes back out. In the 28th, Jerson Sanchez takes a shot at the goal and this effort finds the post as well. We play well but get extremely unlucky. Two minutes before the half, Joey Eshelman enters the box and reaches for the ball but gets tripped from behind. Looking more like a glider trying to crash land then a soccer player, his first solo flight earns him a PK. Sebastian places the ball decisively into the goal and we are tied, 1-1. Unfortunately, Bethany takes the ball from the kick off back to our defense and manages to score before the half; 2-1. HALF TIME- The Tea Time Talk is a positive one. After the first sloppy 10 minutes, we settled down and have played well. Two defensive miscues have put us in a hole but we have managed all year to get out of those without too many problems. It is also not our most important game but Bethany is a decent team albeit somewhat one dimensional. All they do is long ball it where we try to mix it up with possession, passing and a occasional long ball. We need to shape up a little defesively and finish our opportunities. SECOND HALF- Action on the pitch goes back and forth. The Bruins create few chances but are rarely dangerous. They end up with 2 goals on 4 shots on the night. A little past midway thru the half, the Panthers get a free kick. Chan is tired of their #10 Torres throwing the ball up and away after each free kick and tells him to give him the ball at which time Mr. Torres decides to call him a name. Chan's response is inappropriate and a scuffle ensues. Both receive a red card and are ejected from the game and both have to sit out the next game. It is now 10v10 which means there is more space to run into. The arbiters are trying to stop the clock for injuries time and time again but the clock and scoreboard operator has decided to vacation in La La Land or hasn't figured out wwhere the button is to stop the clock. This irritating behavior meets with some screaming from the NW bench (mainly me). Speaking of irritating: as nice as the small boys and girls that run the balls tonight might be to their parents and grandparents, they are obviously too young to have the responsibility as ball people. Time and time again are they unaware of the game and do not know what to do with the ball and are unable to get the ball back into play quickly. Not their fault, you can only blame who ever thought it was a good idea to have the ball running done by people who have not been out of diapers that long. Despite these surrounding events, the Panthers persevere as they have all season long. It finally pays off in the 71st when Andre launches a free kick into the box. It is hard to figure out what happens in the ensuing melee. Let us just go with the unofficial version from the NW players, Jerson somehow gets the ball over the line. It looks to some of us more like an own goal but either way, the goal counts and the Panthers are level. Despite some anxious moments on the Bethany defense side, we are unable to push another one over the line. So we end in a stalemate. We feel we are the better team but we can live with the result, our first draw of the season. In the handshaking line we notice that Chan has learned his lesson and that Torres has not. He utters some disgusting language toward Chan who is wise not to respond. NOTES - The Panthers finish the regualar season at 13-2-1; a fantastic season. As a matter of fact the best season ever by a NW soccer team! 5-2 in the NLC is a school best as well. And now on to the 2019 NorthWood Sectionals. We play in Game 1 on Monday on our home turf -literally- vs West Noble (5 pm start). A preview of the game will be posted on Game Day! We have scouted West Noble and believe we have a good game plan and a good chance of beating them. Today's practice will run til about 4:45-5 and the extra practice tomorrow will be from 10-11 am; both will take place on our turf field in preparation of Sectionals.

Kennedy Kate Douwsma

Coach Douwsma was a different kind of coach yesterday. Seth and Jillian welcomed their second child into this world. Kennedy Kate Douwsma was born on October 2, at 7:49 am at 6 lbs 3 oz and 19.5 inches. Congratulations from the entire coaching staff to both Jillian and Seth!

Game Day #16

2A # 10 NorthWood travels to 1A #4 Bethany Christian today. The Bruins are 9-5 on the season with losses to Mishawaka Marian, Northridge, Culver Academies, Trinity and Goshen. Their "good" wins are against our Sectional opponent 2A #14 West Noble (1-0) and probably Bremen. Bethany's best player is their #10 Torres who has 11 goals on the season. The Bethany soccer program does not have enough players to field a separate JV/V so the JV will be shortened to one half with a 5 pm kick off. The Varsity game follows which means the kick off for that game will be closer to 6 pm.

Girls Golf send off

Coach Duerksen is asking all soccer players to go to the parking lot at 7:45 Thursday morning to help send off the girls golf team to State!

Today's Practice and tomorrow's games

This afternoon we will practice no later then 5 pm. Bring rain gear! Tomorrow's game (the last regular season game) is the away game at Bethany Christian Bruins. The Bruins are ranked #4 in 1A. Bethany does not have two full teams to field (V/JV) so the JV will only play one half which kicks off at 5pm. The Varsity game will start following the conclusion of the JV contest. So anticipate a Varsity start around 6 pm!!!!

broadcastsport.net to broadcast NW game(s) at Boys Sectionals

The online station broadcastsport.net will broadcast the NorthWood Boys soccer games live from the NW Soccer field. If you are unable to make it to the game, listen online starting at 5pm. The announcers are unknown at this point but we will post that info when we get it.

Shout Out time

A HUGE SHOUT OUT AND THANK YOU TO OUR FYSIO/ATHLETIC TRAINER MR. PAUL WIDNER. WHAT HE DOES FOR OUR ATHLETES IN GENERAL AND OUR SOCCER PLAYERS SPECIFICALLY, IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. HE GETS OUR BOYS BACK TO FITNESS AFTER INJURIES WHICH ALWAYS SEEMS TO GO PRETTY FAST IF (!) THE PLAYERS DO WHAT PAUL TELLS THEM TO ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO OUR FANS! THEY HAVE COME OUT IN HUGE NUMBERS ALL SEASON LONG. MAKES ME WONDER IF THERE WILL BE ENOUGH ROOM FOR OF THEM AT THE SECTIONAL GAMES. THANKS FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING THE BOYS!!! AND THE LAST SHOUT OUT GOES TO THE PARENTS FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT TO THE PROGRAM, THE DEFREITAS FAMILY, RANDY CRIPE (ANNOUNCING), IWEMA'S (HYDRATION AND SUN PROTECTION SUPPORT AS WELL AS VIDEO SUPPORT) AND ALL THE PARENTS I AM FORGETTING AND THOSE WHO HELP THE ONES JUST MENTIONED!!!

Senior Night part 1 "the Seniors and their parents/escorts"

TRENT EDWARDS AND HIS PARENTS JERSON SANCHEZ AND HIS FAMILY EDWARD LUNA WITH SEBASTIAN'S DAD ANGEL PANTOJA AND HIS PARENTS JASON WELDY AND HIS PARENTS COACH DUERKSEN SPRINTING TO TAKE HIS SPOT AS SKYLER'S DAD SKYLER DUERKSEN AND HIS PARENTS

2019 Senior Night part 2

2019 Senior Night Pics part 3

NorthWood - Plymouth 4-2 (3-0)

After the JV loses to Plymouth (2-0, missed pk) we get ready for 2019 Senior Night. Six seniors are honored (pics above)for their time and commitment to the NW soccer program. All but one have been in the program for 4 years. Edward Luna only played this season. Jerson Sanchez, Trent Edwards, Jason Weldy, Skyler Duerksen and Angel Pantoja have been with us for four years and have been part of a sort of rebuilding of the program after its last success in 2014. The players and their parents/escorts are being introduced before tonight's game and despite a late Plymouth arrival, the game does not start too late considering the pre-game activities. Everything goes off without a hitch. Even the National Anthem makes it all the way through. After the team huddle , it is time to play some NLC soccer. We look sharp early on. An attentive Skyler Duerksen spots Jerson Sanchez down field. Skyler's long pass matches his long hair. The man who only 24 hours prior was called Fabio by the Glenn crowd, finds Jerson on the receiving end and Jerson controls the ball perfectly and goes one on one with the keeper and puts NW up 1-0 in the 4th. Only two minutes later, Andre has the ball on the right and in similar fashion, passes to Jerson up top. Again Jerson goes at the Rockies backstop and again he makes no mistake and slots the ball in the net; 2-0! NW neglects to put the game away and lets Plymouth take control of the game. We sit back too much and play on our heels for really no reason. Plymouth has the majority of the possession and in the 20th a Plymouth free kick needs saved by Andre Graber (yes bench, it is a official recorded save!!). Despite Plymouth controlling the ball, they are not too much of a threat. Right before the half, Chandler Bontrager gets the ball on the NW half. His long pass finds Andre DeFreitas to the left of the goal. The Plymouth keeper is out of position at the near post so all Andre has to do is open up his hip and pass the ball to the right of the goal. The keeper has no chance and Andre records NW's third goal and his first (which ties the school record of most goals scored in a season at 23!). The half time talk consists of organization in the middle and not being lazy. It doesn't take long for Plymouth to get one back. In the 43rd Plymouth scores the 3-1 off a corner. NW extends the lead back to 3 when int he 50th, Jerson passes the ball to Sebastian. Sebastian takes the ball near the end line and passes the ball back across the box to Andre who places the ball past the keeper; 4-1. This is Andre's 24th goal of the season, a A NorthWood record. Andre surpasses Clayton Seitz's single season record of 23. In the 55th a Plymouth handball does not get called (again), some of the NW players stop and protest but the Rockies play on and the attack ends with a shot on Graber's goal but lucky for us, the woodwork saves the day. The Plymouth JV coach is unable to quit screaming all night to the point that we start hoping for an accidental ball to strike him in the mouth so he will shut up for a bit. Despite the rants from Coach "Screamer" or maybe because of his actions, Plymouth scores in the 57th to reduce the difference to 2 goals; 4-2. A lot of sloppy back and forth soccer continues until the 75th when a Sebastian to Jerson pass ends with Jerson's poke on the ball that lands on the post. Sebastian finishes the game with an assist and a yellow and the Panthers hold on to the lead for a 4-2 NLC win. Our record is 13-2, another school record (most wins in a season). The NLC final record is 5-2 (also another school record for most wins ever in NLC). And speaking of records; this is the first time a NorthWood Boys soccer team goes undefeated at home (all wins!!!) for the first time in school history. As good as our records are, we can not rest until we finish a) the season (at Bethany tomorrow - Thursday) and start winning in the NorthWood Sectional (starting Monday vs. West Noble at 5 pm). A shout out to Sarah DeFreitas (and all who helped her) for organizing Senior Night and the Senior Dinner. The food was great!!! The coaches want to thank all responsible for the gifts last night. Thank you so very much! To quote Coach Duerksen though; "let's keep this train moving!"

Glenn - NorthWood pics

GRABER ENJOYING ANOTHER SHUT OUT ANOTHER OFF SIDE CALL MISSED

Glenn - NorthWood 0-8 (0-3)

The Glenn announcer seems impressed with himself when he utters a "WOW" after announcing both teams. But that feeling fades quickly when "technical difficulties" ruin the playing of the national anthem. The Start Spangled Banner only makes it through "whose broad stripes and brights stars". The game therefore starts a little earlier then anticipated. The 8-5-1 Falcons just come off a decent 3-2 loss versus South Bend St. Joe. The Panthers had to cancel Friday's practice (weather) and had already taken a break on Wednesday as well so "rusty" might be the keyword to start with. But the boys surprise by attacking from the first whistle and only about 120 ticks in, Sebastian gets to the endline and crosses to the 6 and on the ground. Jerson is waiting for the ball and not a single Glenn defender is marking him. The easy tap in gives us the early lead; 0-1. NW controls play and the Falcons rarely threaten. Their #19, who has 17 goals and 11 assists on the season, does not come close to the Panther goal. In minute 13, a cross reaches Chan. His shot is on the frame and I mean, on the frame because it hits the left post. Five minutes later Andre passes to Jerson who in turn, passes it back to Andre in the middle. Andre takes a shot for his first and NW's second goal of the night; 0-2. In the 35th NW gets a corner. Michael delivers it to the middle in the box to Andre, he shoots and scores; 0-3. Right before the half time whistle, a Glenn midfielder takes a shot that goes over by a mile which draws the comment from Glenn coach Meola "let's try and keep it in the county". Clearly a frustrated coach. Not alot of adjustments are necessary at the half. From the coaches' perspective, we want to try and get all the players time and rest some of the starters with a game on Tuesday and Thursday and both a lot tougher than this match. The second half start similar to the first one. Three minutes in, a deflected cross from Chandler, lands near Andre whose shot finds the back of the net; 0-4. Andre already has a hat trick at this point. A 48 minute Kayden pass gets to Andre inside the 18. Andre goes at the Falcon GK and slots the ball to the right; 0-5. A minute later, Glenn does not defend well and Kayden gets possession of the ball. He aims for the goal and the ball goes over the line; 0-6. In the 53", NW threatens in the box when Jerson and Sebastian hit the woodwork in sequence. In the 56th, we get a replay from the first goal. Sebastian takes the ball, after some fancy footwork that dazzles the Glenn defenders, to the end line. He crosses the ball away from the keeper and near the 6. Jerson is there but Glenn defenders are not. An easy tap gives Jerson another brace and NW an 0-7 lead. After Ryne kicks what the Swedes call a "smorpassing" or butter pass to Andre, NW threatens again. Andre shoots but crushes the post. The last goal of the night, to Glenn's relief, comes off a Kayden assist to Andre. Andre's finish is clinical and the final score, 0-8 is on the board. The Panthers move to 12-2 on the season. We have scored 66 times so far which is a season record. 12 wins so far ties the most wins in a season as well. Next up is Tuesday's match up against Plymouth. It is Senior night, the weather will be great and a win would still give us a shot at second place in the NLC. We are counting on a large crowd to support us tonight. The JV starts at around 5:15 (Plymouth has busing issues so they will arrive late) and the Varsity game follows the JV game and Senior Night activities. After the game there is a Senior Dinner at the High School for players and families.