NorthWood- #9 Warsaw 1-0 (0-0)

A bus full of undefeated players rolls into town (both Warsaw team sported no losses on the season)but a deflated one leaves town after a hard fought NLC battle tonight. The JV gives Warsaw all they can handle and the Tigers are lucky to escape with a 0-1 win after a great Trace Roa performance.

Ron Bedward is out tonight in honor of his daughter Shaylee Bedward-Downs who lost her battle with ovarian cancer at age 27 this past November. September is ovarian awareness month and both the JV and Varsity are wearing teal socks (teal is the ribbon color assigned to ovarian cancer awareness) to support this cause. Ron explains the promise he made to his daughter to spread awareness of this awful decease. The weather tonight starts out rainy and cool but once the rain clears out, it turns sunny, bright and warm. By the start of the main attaraction the sun is about to set and temps dip once again so weather wise, a perfect evening for some good old NLC soccer. After the players sat thru the "History of NorthWood soccer" which showed them their connection to the program's past (very close and personal for some), we now hope they take that connection to the program onto the field and turn it into some energy. It looks like that is the case from the whistle. Warsaw, ranked 9th in 3A and undefeated at 10-0-1, dictates the tempo and play early on but the Panthers do not look one bit intimidated. The referees syndrome of calling fouls for the "big soccer schools" continues in the early stages in this game as well. A subconscious syndrome, I'm sure, but irritating nonetheless. The first time the verbal protest from the NW bench comes in the 21st when the center official gets hit by the ball coming off a NW foot. For some reason, the ref gives the drop ball to Warsaw. An evenly played somewhat physical first half ends in 0-0 and we certainly feel that we are in this game. Our line of engagement for pressure has worked well and it seems that the short tactical reminder drill the day before was absorbed very well. We look organized and if we continue to do that, we will have a shot at a result. Some very minor adjustments are made at the half and we are ready to start the second half. The play goes back and forth. After Kyle loudly complains about a call on the field, the tide seems to turn a little into our favor. I did say seems because in the 50th, play is stopped and Carlos has to remove his headband which is now deemed unsafe and the consequence is a Kyle yellow card because of a "improperly equipped player". Another yellow is issued a mere 180 seconds later when Ethan gets fouled and he retaliates with a kick at the opponent. We can live with his yellow but the decision to give the free kick to the Tigers makes no sense at all. You call the first foul, give us the free kick and Ethan a yellow for retaliation. But what do we know; apperently he only calls second fouls for free kicks. Three minutes later NorthWood attacks up the middle. Some nifty Dom moves cause the Warsaw defense to commit a foul just outside the box. Free kick specialist Luis Castillo sets up the ball and Dom takes the fake followed by Luis. His shot seems well taken and headed towards the frame. The keeper dives to his left, the ball gets deflected and disappears into the Warsaw net to the keeper's right, 0-1 NorthWood! For the next 24 minutes, NW has to park the bus in order to keep the zero on the scoreboard. With a defense that keeps battling, a midfield that slows attacks and our forwards helping where they can, we see the clock ticking down ever so slowly! An occassional attack relieves the defense for a bit but the attacks come in waves. Trent Iwema plays a huge role in tonight's win. He literally stops every ball directed on to the frame. The game stays physical until the end. Even Aiden takes a hard tackle up the middle of the field but is able to continue. The clock runs out and the Panthers can head to the locker room to celebrate one of the biggest wins ever during a regular season in program history.

THE TEAM CELEBRATES THEIR WIN OVER # 9 WARSAW!!