NorthWood- Warsaw 1-1- (0-0)

The JV stays undefeated as they play to a 1-1 draw with a Solomon Yeagon goal in the 34". The Varsity takes the field for the Senior Night activities (see above for images)

Under sunny skies and the heat set at 73 degrees, the field is surrounded by fans in the stands, on the sideline in chairs and in the cheap seats behind the fence. Froggy 102.7 is broadcasting the game live on the radio as well as streaming the game on the internet! Despite 11 seniors being introduced with their parents, the game kicks off at 7 pm. This truly talented side faces a Warsaw team that has seen improving results as of late and fields a solid defense with the exception of the keeper. Technically, Warsaw is always a good side. The Tigers have a new coach, and more about him and his staff later. FIRST HALF- Our offensive threat shows itself to the Tigers and the crowd within the first seconds of the game. A beautiful straight up pass on the sideline from Cam Iwema lands perfectly in front of Sebastian Guillen. Seba goes around the left defender and crosses the ball high into the box where Andre de Freitas receives the ball between two Warsaw defenders. He brings the ball down but unfortunately he is unable to get too much pace on the ball as he falls back while kicking the ball at the goal. Within seconds, Warsaw counters and a hard shot requires a difficult save by Andrew Graber who would end up playing a Kyle Dijkstra like game! Kayden Newcomer takes a nice shot at the Warsaw frame but gets deflected by a Warsaw hand. But tonight, hand balls do not count. None of the three or so obvious hand balls during the game receive a free kick. In the 18th, Warsaw's #12 takes a great shot at the Panthers' goal and again Graber is there to prevent the goal.A new weapon in NorthWood's arsenal (first seen over the weekend in Argos) turns out to be another threat for the opponent; Andre has a long throw. This one finds Sebastian's head at the near post. The flick is saved by the Warsaw's GK. The officiating crew is surely experiencing an off night. The game gets chippy when Andre gets hacked from behind by Warsaw's #5 at the southwest corner flag. This is what happens when you let a lot of things go. The defender receives a yellow and he is lucky because a red would not have been unreasonable. Despite the back and forth attacks, we enter half time without anyone scoring goals. HALF TIME - Focus is on pressuring as a team and how to attack from the back with roll up defenders since Warsaw defends with the help of two of their attackers. SECOND HALF - Warsaw takes the game at NW for a good portion of the second half and threatens more and more offensively. In the 65th, Warsaw's #3 takes a hard crack at the goal and we get lucky, the ball hits the woodwork and goes over. Andre fouls a Warsaw MF near the Warsaw bench. It is a pretty innocent foul but the obvious unexerienced and not so classy Warsaw bench screams that andre is a hack. That is the one thing he is definitely NOT. Coach Duerksen, not appreciative of the name calling, tells the Warsaw coaches to be quiet. Even their "camera man" thinks he should contribute to the discussion.Eight minutes later Warsaw puts Randy Cripe to work when he has to change the scoreboard to 0-1 when a Warsaw attack at the top of the 18 sees a pass go to a Warsaw attacker (in an off side position as we thought and confirmed by watching the game tape). The AR on the west side line has already missed several off sides and doesn't disappoint this time by not raising her flag so the goal counts and the Tigers take a 0-1 lead. The Warsaw coaching staff celebrates in coach's Duerksen's face; a real classy move. The Panthers however do not let anyone get them distracted and the focus is on getting a goal back. We seem to run out of time but end up with a free kick after a unnecessary foul about 40 yards out. Andre de "Hack" Freitas turns into Andre "de Golden Goal" Freitas by putting the ball on the frame. The ball whirls at the goal and a lot of foot traffic prevents the Warsaw keeper with the butterfingers from getting to the ball. He gets a couple of fingers on the ball but the ball rolls into the net in the 80th (!!!!!) minute for the 1-1. Most draws are not exciting or satisfying, this one is. We deserve it and take a point when the clock expires. Both teams applaud each other after this battle. Overall, the entertainment value is high tonight, the officiating crew had an off night and hopefully will do better Thursday when they officiate our game again but expectations are low. the Dutch Touch POTG goes to Andrew Graber with 9 terrific saves on the night! NOTES- Thanks to Randy Cripe for doing the announcing again tonight and to Ryan Mattern who did double duty tonight (and drove to the field catalytic converterless) by announcing Senior Night and announcing the game as the color commentator on Froggy 102.7. Thanks to Froggy for being out at the game (Thanks Craig and Ron!!). Thanks to all the parents of our 11 seniors. Today's practice is at the HS from 3-4:30. Next up is the away game at Goshen tomorrow.