NorthWood-Bremen 2-1 (0-1)

The second Semi Final of Sectional 18 starts late due to the fact that the preceeding match goes into a PK shootout that is eventually won by South Bend St. Joe. By the way, compared to last season when we played our Sectionals games at Culver Academies, NorthWood is the much better location to host this torunament. To start with, things are organized, Randy Cripe does a great job announcing, Kyle Cripe does great on the scoreboard, AJ is a master at escorting people off the field (so far only one Coach) and his music selection from Pearl Jam to ELO to the Alan Parsons project hits the right notes so to speak. The facility is top notch of course and the City's Parks Department does a great job getting the field ready (it has been prepped twice already this week) and also takes care of the concession stand. All in all, for visitors, coming to NorthWood is a great experience. But all that aside, what happens on the pitch is now the important thing. After taking care of Wawasee in game 1, we shift our focus to Bremen. We played Bremen in August at our Invitational and beat them 2-1 so we know this will be a tough task. Bremen kicks off and NW attacks the south goal. After some back and forth play in the first few minutes, the Panthers settle in and pressure and attack more so then the Lions. Against the run of play, it is however Bremen who in a counter attack crosses from the right corner flag area into the box. A missed mark means that a Bremen player is open. He has no problems slotting the ball into the NW goal for a 0-1 Bremen lead. This is also the HT score. The talk at the Half is fairly simple; keep playing the way we do but drop Jager back some, get free kicks in the box and anticipate balls into the offensive third. Our energy has been good for the last 6 games and the second half starts like the first. We are lively, get open when we don't have the ball and work for each other. Our efforts get rewarded in the 55th when a ball in the box finds Gusy. His best finish of the season (when we need it most) finds the net in a hurry and changes the scoreboard to 1-1! The rest of the half, both teams get opportunities but none find the back of the net. Evander comes up with some big saves and does well on (not so much deserved) free kicks and corners, punching one of these efforts out of the box. More than halfway thru the second half, we need Mr. Widner to rush on to the field to check on Isaac Bell and a Bremen player who collided heads while both were attempting to head a ball near the box. Both need attention but both would resume play later on. Isaac would end up getting stitches after the game and is cleared to play Saturday albeit with probably less headers than we are used to. The score stays 1-1 when the final whistle blows at the end of regulation. We now need to play another 2 times 7 minutes in Extra Time. Again the Panthers come out with lots of energy, unwilling to give up. This is truly a team that has improved over time, understands what needs done on the field. The passing has definately improved over the last month which has made us more dangerous and also less vulnerable defensively. In the 89" (so in the second minute of ET) a NW free kick ends up near Jager inside the box. His well placed header hits the ropes for a well deserved 2-1 lead. The crowd has been terrific and loud all night long but now goes completely berserk. They truly are the 12th man tonight! Evander has to make one more unbelievable save on the ground as the frenzied Lions try one more time to score from inside our box. Evander is Michiana Promotions' Man of the Match! Other could qualify as well as there were many heroic efforts by so many. The final score is 2-1 for the Panthers and despite having practiced PK's for weeks now, we still do not have to go to a PK shootout. The Panthers move to 10-6-2 on the season tying their win total from last year with a chance of going to 11 wins on the season Saturday. This one is for a Championship!!! Saturdays game vs. South Bend St. Joe is at Wellfield Park at 2 pm. The weather looks to be great with a forecast of sunny and 70 degrees! We are hoping for a great crowd to cheer on our boys as they play for a Sectional Championship.