Sectionals Fixtures - hosted by NorthWood

2025 Sectional Draw (at NorthWood)

Not a bad draw for NW; game 1 to be played next Monday, Games 2 & 3 on Tuesday, games 4 & 5 on Wednesday and the Final a week from Saturday.

New Prairie - NorthWood 0-1 (0-1)

The day starts off on a positive note with the JV winning their game 0-2 with nice goals from Cam and Abe (header and free kick respectively). It moves the JV to 5-6-2 on the season with a chance to go 500 for the year! After the fastest National Anthem ever, the Panthers get introduced and almost all get introduced correctly with the exception being Jager Booteh!

Before kick off, it becomes clear that our officiating crew today is probably not going to impress. Just by looking at their cars, it feels like decision making is not their strong point. The game kicks off under sunny skies and comfortable temperatures. It would only take 9 minutes to figure out that the center ref will probably make the top 10 worst referees of the season. On a NW corner, Ben Bodach takes his position in front of the keeper. The NP keeper seems to have an issue with that and elbows Ben. The center ref sees this and comes over and gets into the keeper's face -competely unneccesary- before issuing a yellow caution. About five minutes later, Jager slides a ball nicely to Brian inside the box. His finish is perfect as he slots the ball past the New Prairie keeper, 0-1. Many calls from the center official are dubious at best but none more so then the call near the end of the game when Lucas gets leveled in the box (as we have seen numerous times since the game on Hudl video) and the whistle gets blown right away. For a PK, everyone assumes but nothing is less true when he points to the spot of the foul for a ....... foul on Lucas. In the video you can see the relief by the defenders and coach! Just before that NW escaped a NP attack where a shot gets deflected in our box but still stopped by Evander. 0-1 is the Final result which means that the Panthers are on a three game unbeaten streak going into Senior Night with two wins and a tie. The Varsity is 7-6-2 on the season with a chance to go to 8-6-2 going into Sectionals if we beat Plymouth.

NorthWood - Mishawaka Marian 0-0 (0-0)

The visitors are coming off a strong performance against Penn where they lost 5-4 in a PK shoot out. Our officials look like flamingos and late in the game make a decision that you would think only a flamingo could make. The Panthers start out with lots of energy, great passing and overall good soccer. Early on, Jager brings a ball into the right corner and places the ball behind Gusy but in front of Brian. His shot misses to the left of the frame but the build up is promising. Marian has turned into a long ball attacking team which seems odd considering they seem to have the talent to build up thru the middle. The Panthers keep battling and keep passing well and use a combination of possession and counterattacking long passing. The second half looks much the same as the first where both teams get opportunities to score but fail to do so. Gusy gets closest to scoring when a cross from the right gets cleared by a Marian knee just before he can push the ball over the line. The Marian keeper is suspect at best and gives us some secondary chances at scoring. With about 13 minutes left on the clock, a Knight attacker penetrates the NW box and after being barely touched in the back by a NW defender, goes down very easily. The Center ref, who has the name of giving up soft PK's of the flopping variety, points to the spot. Evander dives to his right and stops the PK. The pink AR watching over the PK has the center ref retake the PK for Evander coming off his line too early. That call is also seldom made. The same player has to re-take the PK. This time he misses again and shoots the ball way over. The last 12 minutes are frantic and goes back and forth until the clock runs down to 0:00. Final 0-0, a fair result and a good result for the Panthers but more importantly, a very well played game. It was a good performance for 80 minutes! The Varsity moves to 6-6-2 on the season. The JV loses 0-2 and slides to 4-8-2. The next game is the away fixture at New Prairie tomorrow.

Mishawaka Cavemen - NorthWood 0-2 (0-1)

Panthers move to 6-6-1 on the season after goals from Gusy (9") and Isaac Bell on a corner in the 60". A very wet pitch is apparently the perfect field condition for Isaac Bell as he is involved in both goals.

NorthWood- #7 (3A) Goshen 0-3 (0-2)

A tough, skilled opponent with State Championship aspirations defeats the Panthers. Some heroic efforst by GK Evander Magana are needed to keep the scoring at 3 while some scoring opportunities for NW do not find the back of the net. The Panthers fall to 5-6-1. Drew and Brian are back in the lineup which is a positive on numerous fronts. Brian gives us speed and offensive threats, Drew gives us solid distribution, calm and defensive support and with both of them available, the team has now more depth then at any other time during the season. The JV loses a heartbreaker by giving up a PK very late in the game. Practice today at Wellfield will end at 5 pm and with no game tomorrow for the Varsity, it means a rare weekend off. The JV however is right back at it and again faces Goshen in the JV Tournament tomorrow morning. Time for some revenge. First game at Goshen is at 9 am, second game at Noon.

#18 Warsaw - NorthWood 5-0 (4-0)

Varsity and JV both loose 5-0. Varsity record is 5-5-1. Next up is 3A # 7 Goshen at home Thursday.

NorthWood-Trinity Greenlawn 4-1 (4-1)

Trinity Greenlawn wastes no time scoring when they cross and blast a ball past Evander before the first minute is up! One attack, one cross, one shot, one goal. It takes a few minutes for the Panthers to get in their rhytm. In the 14th, Casin sends a long ball from the back that reaches Gusy who somehow turns and volleys the ball past the TG GK to draw us even at 1-1. Only 4 minutes later, NW has another chance. Jagers' effort ends near Sammy after a deflection. Mr. Hoover does not disappoint and whips the ball in for his second goal of the season.Trinity has a breakaway counter in the 21st that could have changed the course of the game but a determined save by Evander averts disaster. In the 24th, Ben Bodach delivers a long ball which turns into an assist when Jager slots the ball past the keeper for the 3-1 lead. Scoring is not yet complete in the first half becuase a handball in the Trinity box gives Jager a chance for a brace. Just like Drew Davis a few games ago, Jager puts the PK away, this time in the opposite corner from where Drew scored; 4-1. We expect Trinity to pressure more in the second half but that never materializes. NW makes contact with the crossbar twice in the second half (61" Jager header, 63" Paul with a cross-shot combo). The rest of the half is uneventful and the Panthers leave Wellfield with the second win of the week. With a 5-4-1 record in their back pocket, the team travels to Waky for a great Taco and Quesedilla meal at the Dosal compound. Thanks to the Dosal's for hosting the event. It was very much appreciated!! Next up is the home game at Warsaw tomorrow (Tuesday). The Saturday game was played without the injured Drew Davis. Hopefully we will get some good news on his injury this week.

ECA - NorthWood 1-1 (0-1)

Talon Field has the worst game clock in Northern Indiana and the strangest Press Box but some of the best lighting around. The Panthers start out strong and full of energy. The guys fly to the ball and are pressing strong and smart. Initially we end up with some opportunities with a couple of shots from Gusy (first one in the 3rd minute), Jager and Isaac but we have to wait for the 28th minute before we see our first (and what would turn out to be our only) goal when Jager crosses a ball to Cole "the Bus" Huff who scores after having come into the game only minutes before that. We finish the half strong with quite a few good passing strings , good energy and pressure. At the half we talk about the changes ECA will bring when it comes to more pressure on us as well as trying to bring more offensive numbers which in turn should open things up in their defense for us. The second half indeed starts with ECA pressuring the Panthers more. We lose the ball more often and also lose a bit of grip on the game. Officiating is abysmal in the second half. After barely utilizing his instrument in the first half, the center ref now has discovered his whistle and blows it more often even though the decisions are fairly dubious. Ignoring his AR on the far side for most of the game, we even see a discussion between the two where it is obvious that the AR is getting increasingly frustrated with being completely ignored. The center arbiter is pretty much unaware and oblivious and probably not worthy of being a center for a High School game. It is his performance that will turn the contest more contentious near the end because the decisions are hard to understand.In the 65th minute of play, Cole gets another chance at a goal at close range but neglects to make good contact with the ball (aka a whiff). In the 71st, ECA ties the game on a effort inside the box. Jager ends up with a yellow while time runs out for blocking a free kick that should have been awarded to NW.The final score is a disappointing 1-1. Despite playing well, we are unable to press much in the last 15 minutes of the game. We had our chances but were unable to put the ball behind the ECA GK. The Varsity's record is 4-4-1 going into the Trinity home game tomorrow. That game will be at 1:30 pm. The JV will be a forfeit win for NW (so NO JV game tomorrow). The JV defeats ECA 0-1 and is 2-4-1 and after tomorrow's forfeit their record will be 3-4-1.

NorthWood - Wawasee 6-1 (1-0)

Two refs for the Varsity only contest illustrates that arbiters are hard to come by these days although most have been pretty good so quality obviously better that quantity. After a small delay with the sound system, we get underway at 6:07 pm. While possessing the ball the majority of the time, we have to wait until the 28th minute before we see the ball pass the goal line. An Isaac Bell throw in finds Gusy Dosal in the box who foot punches the ball into the ropes. Despite crisp passing with nice pass strings, no more goals get added before the half. At the half, one of the tpics discussed is to take balls into the box while dribbling. The 4-4-2 looks organized even though the opponent is not very dangerous offensively. Five minutes into the second act, Kyler gets the ball on the left flank and crosses it on the ground into the box. Isaac is the recipient who by putting the ball in the back of the net, is involved in both the first and second goal (he would be named Man of the Match by Michiana Promotions during their broadcast of the match). Only two minutes later Kyler Fike again crosses the ball into the box. This time the ball goes into Jager Bute's direction who cleverly, dummy's the ball. The ball gets into the 6 and at the ensuing melee, Drew touches the ball and it ends up in the goal for a 3-0 lead. When Wawasee forces us on the left flank defensively, a mental breakdwon gives the Warriors an opportunity for a shot that finds the net; 3-1. The Wawasee bench errupts and is hoping to get back in the game.Fortunately, the Panthers get back into focused game mode and Gusy scores his second goal of the game after a nice Jager assist.In the 59th, Drew Davis gets leveled in the box and the referee has no choice but to point at the 12 yard spot. Drew slots the PK to his right and out of the Wawasee GK's reach for a four goal lead, 5-1. Only two minutes later does a nice pass make it to Brayden inside the box in what looks to be an obvious goal scoring opportunity but instead he decides to lay the ball of to Sammy inside the 6. Sammy one touches the ball on the frame and this goal is the final one of the evening. We should have had another PK after Gusy gets taken down near the 12 but the center ref decides to ignore it. Gusy does not get a shot at a hat trick and has to be satisfied with a brace today. The Panthers move to 4-4 on the season (1-2 NLC). Next up is ECA tomorrow at Elkhart Christian.

South Bend Adams -NorthWood 5-0 (2-0)

The Panthers fall to 3-4 on the season with a 5-0 defeat at School Field. The JV loses 4-1 and is now 1-4-1 on the season. The Varsity has their next game at home vs. Wawasee today (Tuesday 9/9/25) at 6 pm. Wawasee does not have a JV so our JV will have a regular practice.

Lakeland-NorthWood 2-3 (0-0)

A balanced first half with only one good opportunity for NW (38" Jager Bute goes around the keeper and hits the cross bar), demands an adjustment at the half. The adjustment Kyle makes is to press the slow build out from the back on the Lakers' side. This pays dividend three minutes into the second act as the keeper leaves a clear short and Jager decidedly scores the first goal, 0-1 NW. Another press play on the Lakeland defense in the 55th results in the Panthers (Isaac Bell) recovering the ball near the box. The ensuing dribble from Lucas Mullett and consequent shot lands in the ropes for a 0-2 NorthWood lead.A mere 5 minutes later (60") Jager takes a ball on the right flank and crosses it on the ground into the box. Brayden is in the right spot at the right time and taps the ball over the line for what looks to be an easy second half; 0-3. A 63rd minute fould outside Evander's 18, gives the Lakers a straight on free kick. It sails into the upper left; 1-3. A foul by Traey on the Lakeland left offensive third, gives the Blue Men group another free kick which also sails into the upper left with 3.3 seconds left on the clock. A 2-3 final is not very indicative on how the second half felt. The game was out of reach for the Lakers even though the final makes it look like a close game, which it was not. The Panthers are now 3-3 on the season and will face South Bend Adams at South Bend's School Field at 9 (!!!) am Saturday. This is a game starting time change! The JV match will follow at the conclusion of the Varsity game.

Lakeland today

A Varsity only match for today as the Panthers will travel to Lagrange to face the Lakers. Game is slated for 5:30 pm with the bus leaving the Wellfield complex at 3:45 pm. The Panthers are 2-3 on the season, hoping to even the record at 500. The JV has a normal 3:30-5:15 practice today. Vince will be out today to sit out the one game (red card) suspension.