NW- Ft. Wayne Concordia PICS

THE TEAM BEFORE THE START OF THE GAME/COOKIES FOR THE TEAM FROM AIDEN'S MOM!

NorthWood- #7 (2A) Ft. Wayne Concordia 1-4 (1-1)

Communication has to be key for today's match. After a close 1-2 loss for the JV, it is now the Varsity's turn to take a shot at another ranked team. The Cadets are the current State Runner Up in class 2A. The first half however belongs to NorthWood. A fifth minute cross from Landon to Sebastian ends with a miss or whiff by C-Bass only because our home field is so so so bad. A minute later, Landon places a ball into Jerson's feet whose shot requires a last second touch by the Concordia Lutheran last man for a corner. The only Concordia threat in the first 20 minutes comes comes off a Concordia corner and subsequent header that has Luke diving for his first save of the day. In the 20th, NW finally gets a result from all the offensive work. Sebastian comes up the middle on the left side and passes the ball to Landon who, in turn, crosses the ball into the box towards Andre and Jerson. Some excellent communications between the two has Jerson take a massive blast on the frame. The Concordia keeper has absolutely no chance and NW takes the lead, 1-0. A shot from Nick turns into a redirect chance for Andy; his decent shot sails just over the woodwork. In the 38th, Concordia goes up the field near the lefts side of the box. A pass from the corner has #11 in an offside position so he stops as, for some reason, does the entire NW defense. Another outside midfielder from Concordia takes advantage of of the situation and dribbles into the box around stopped NW players, delivers the ball in the box where another Cadet places the ball simply into the goal. 1-1 is the half time score. At the half that incident is discussed as is the issue to keep playing the way we have and holding the zero in the second half. We play well thru about the 58th. In the 56th, Jerson passes to Andre who goes into the box and around a Concordia defender and places the ball out of reach for the keeper on the frame but the pall lacks pace and is cleared before it reaches the goal line. Luke makes a great save in minute 57 and tips a upper 90 shot over the bar. In the 58th, Concordia is awarded a corner which somehow ends in the goal after a messy melee. Another mess in the box in the 73rd is not dealt with and results in the 1-3. In the 78th, NW shows a sign of life when Jerson's pass finds Sebastian's feet. His shot connects with the crossbar and goes over. In the 79th, Concordia finds the net one more time on a badly defended ball for the 1-4 final.

Match Day 12

The 13th game of the season is another home game. And the opponent is another ranked team. 2A #7 Ft. Wayne Concordia Lutheran will swing thru Nappanee tomorrow where the JV game is slated for 10 am to be followed by the Varsity contest around 11:45. The Cadets are 9-2-1 with one of the two losses coming against common (the only one) opponent Warsaw. Their loss was 3-0 and ours was a 4-0 loss. Players to watch tomorrow are their #11 Gottschalk (7 goals) and #17 Neuhaus who has 8 goals on the season. The pair is responsible for almost half of their scoring output (15 of 32). Concordia has only given up 9 goals on the season (a third of them in the game vs Warsaw) so they are tough defensively. This game will be a challenge but NW has shown some very positive signs as of late both defensively and offensively. All our losses are against ranked teams but it would be nice to beat one. Game time temps will be in the upper 50's so a little cooler then we have been used to but sunny skies so perfect playing weather. Hope to see everyone there. GO PANTHERS!!!

JV - Westview-NorthWood 0-0 (0-0)

The jV travels to Westview and plays to a scoreless draw. The JV record is 3-7-1. Next up: tomorrow (Saturday) at home vs. Ft. Wayne Concordia Lutheran.

Update - today's training

After the team meeting we will have a defensive training in Coach Duerksen's room around 3:40. We will be doing that for about 25 minutes before we go outside. NO CLEATS!!!! inside.

Location Update Friday Training session -

The Friday practice will be at the game field from 3:30 pm -5ish.

Updated travel and game time information

Coach Duerksen received confirmation from the Athletic Department that the JV bus to Westview tomorrow will leave at 3:45 pm. Saturday games vs Ft. Wayne Concordia will be at 10 am (JV) and 11:45 am (Varsity).

Adjusted Training schedule for the rest of the week

Below are four new blogs to catch up from this week's games. The adjusted training schedule for this week is as follows: Wednesday 9/19/18 3:30-4:30 pm. Thursday 9/20/18 3:30-5pm. Friday 9/21/18 3:30-5 pm. Wednesday & Thursday training is at the High School practice facility. Friday TBD. Our next game is a home game on Saturday vs. Concordia Lutheran. We have it listed at 10 am JV & 11:45 Varsity but the website has it at 11 & 1 pm so we will double check and post the correct time here and push it out on Remind as well.

Images from the NW-Memorial NLC clash

The injured Memorial player gets medical treatment and the pregame preparation on the NW bench.

NorthWood - # 20 Memorial 1-2 (0-1)

After an exciting 2nd half JV game, in which the Panthers JV turn a 0-2 deficit into a 4-2 win, we hope that this sets the tone for the night. The Varsity squad needs to make sure to stay away from an early deficit which has happened too often this season. Things seem to go our way when a thru pass on the ground to Kayden creates a 1 on 1 on the keeper opportunity but the goal scoring chance is taken away by AR 1 who says Landon Parker was offside (a player who is NOT involved in the play). Unfortunately it isn't the first time that a poor arbitration decision goes against us. Four minutes later, Memorial takes advantage of some NW defensive indecision which results in a Charger 0-1 lead. HALF TIME- Coach Duerksen, for the second time this week, stresses the importance of communication on the field, passing to feet and making runs to get open and defensively we need to mark all offensive minded players and step on the ball. SECOND HALF- Two minutes in, we fail to step on the ball when a 20 yard shot disappears over Luke and into the upper right for a 0-2 Memorial lead. But the Panthers get back in the game, battle and combine well. In the 54th, Landon Parker passes a ball to Andy Duran at about 3 yards outside the 18. Andy twists and turns and takes a shot that flies around the keeper to cut the Memorial lead in half, 1-2. In the 72nd minute, Landon gets fouled by a Memorial midfielder (Brandon). The Brandon/Landon foul does not get called and Landon goes in hard to retrieve his lost ball. As he goes in, the Memorial player gets hit and falls awkwardly. His shoulder injury (possibly separated shoulder) delays the game because Memorial Coach Sheely wants to make sure it is okay to move his injured player. As Coach Duerksen shows off his skill as an ambulance driver, NW's Kyle Luster shows some exceptional leadership and class when he asks the opponent to pray with the Panthers (see picture). And so maybe that is the important moment of the night! The game resumes about 20 minutes after the injury occurs. Landon gets a yellow and Brandon a ride to the doctor, unfortunately. Despite some NW pressure and minor opportunities, the clock runs out before NW can tie the game. The Varsity falls to 5-6-1. NOTES- The JV improves to 3-7; today's goals come from Joey, Noah, Angel and Jason.

Temporarily sidelined

Skyler Duerksen is temporarily sidelined when he gets elbowed against ECA.

NorthWood - Elkhart Christian Academy 3-0 (2-0)

A busy week for NW soccer with three games on the schedule for the Varsity and four games for the JV. FIRST HALF- The Panthers start out with pressure early on which results in a second minute opportunity when Landon crosses the ball into the box to Kayden Newcomer. Kayden's shot requires the ECA GK to tip the ball to prevent a very early lead. Fourteen minutes after the first chance, the Panthers are awarded a free kick in the de Freitas range. Andre's well taken free kick finds Sebastian Guillen who heads the ball in the upper right part of the goal for a NW 1-0 lead. Jerson adds to the lead in the 22nd when he exercises his "hot knife thru butter" dribbling skills. He cuts thru 3 defenders into the 6 and decidedly finishes his action, 2-0. HALF TIME- Despite the lead, play is sloppy and it looks like an unmotivated team on the pitch. Simplicity is preached by coach Duerksen, pass, move and talk is the new focus for the next half. SECOND HALF- Landon Parker decides to go solo in the first minute of half number two. In the 41st, Landon blasts a shot around and over the keeper for a pretty goal and a 3-0 lead that puts the game out of reach for a Panthers win. The rest of the half, NW possesses the ball at about a 65-35% rate and the only other noteworthy moments are a 52 minute Andre de Freitas free kick that explodes on the crossbar, comes down (apparently in front of the goal line)and comes back out. The Panthers move to 5-5-1 on the season. The JV loses 2-1 to Penn but plays well.

Sectionals Information

The Sectionals will start two weeks from today. The draw for the tournament will be Sunday September 23rd. NorthWood has been assigned to Sectional 20 which will be played at Angola. Garrett, Lakeland, Wawasee and West Noble are the other teams in our Sectional.

ECA and Memorial game reports will be posted Wednesday morning

Yours truly is out of town tomorrow so game reports will not appear until wednesday morning.

Match Day #10

The eleventh game of the season is the start of the longest home stand of the season. Including tonight's game, we will play around the divots for the next 4 games. Tonight's match up is versus Elkhart Christian Academy and is a Varsity only contest which will kick off at 6:45 pm. The weather at kickoff will be around 81 degrees under sunny skies, summer like in other words. ECA is 7-3-1 on the season. The only common opponent is Argos (ECA 0-6L, NW 4-3L). The Panthers are 4-5-1. ECA's leading top scorer is #27 Klahr who has hit the back of the net 15 times so far this season. The JV plays at Penn today. The bus leaves at 3:30 from the High School. The Varsity needs to be at the game field at 6 pm.

Goshen-NorthWood

#10 Goshen - NorthWood 5-0 (3-0)

Injuries and a suspension forces the Panthers to play in different formation. A couple of individual mistakes add to the total goals but overall, the second half, the organization is much better; something to build on. Varsity is 4-5-1 and the JV falls to 1-5 (3-0 L to Goshen). The JV plays at 9 am and Noon tomorrow in the NLC JV Tourney at Goshen (first game vs. Wawasee). The bus leaves at 8 am. The Varsity returns to action on Monday at home vs. Elkhart Christian Academy at 7 pm. Players have to be ready at the field by 6:15 pm. NOTES: No practice today. As banged up as we are, a day off will do everyone some good. With about 4 or 5 players with some knocks, three days off will help us for next week when we play three games (Mon/Tue/Sat). All games will be at home so we will get to know each individual divot and hole intimately by the end of the week.

Match Day 9

We play game 10 on Match Day 9 tonight; one of only two games remaining on the road until Sectionals. We travel the short trek to Goshen to take on Class 3A #10 Redhawks. The majority of our tough schedule consists of large ranked schools so tonight will be a challenge. The Redhawks are 6-3-1 on the season and are on a 2 game winning streak. Goshen has struggled in the NLC where they are 1-2-1. The Panthers are 4-4-1 and 1-3 in the NLC. A win over Goshen would see us go ahead of them in conference. Both Goshen and NW lost to Northridge. The Panthers lost to Concord where Goshen was able to come away with tie. So far, those are the only common opponents we have faced. After tonight, the Redhawks have 2 games left on their regular season schedule. The Panthers have 6 games remaining on their heavily back end loaded schedule. Players to watch tonight are Goshen's senior # 5 Aguilar (9 goals on the season) and sophomore Fernando Quevedo (5 goals and # unknown). It promises once again to be a beautiful night to sit on the sideline with temps to be in the mid to low 70's at gametime. GO PANTHERS!!!

NorthWood-#13 Warsaw 0-4 (0-2)

Warsaw scores twice in the first half due to a couple of defensive miscues. The Tigers add two more goals in the second in a game where the Panthers don't play up to their potential, seem to react too slow in midfield marking and tracking back. The officiating is up to this point (60th minute or so) definitely sub par, if that. But that would change when the center decides to take his whistle skills to an entirely never before seen level on the negative side of the officiating spectrum. When Skyler has to come back from the left and into the box to prevent a 1v1 on Luke, he (Skyler) slides to clear the ball. He gets ALL ball (hence the track of where the ball goes after he slide kicks it -towards the scoreboard/corner-). The Warsaw attacker falls and the center "ref" (read "clown") blows his whistle. He is not close to the play but awards the Tigers a PK (which Warsaw would miss) AND NorthWood a red card! A triple punishment!!!!!!!! One that you don't see anymore these days. So Warsaw gets a PK, we are a man short the rest of the game and we will be without our central defender against Goshen. Just because you wear a yellow shirt doesn't mean you are a referee; point proven! The same goes for the AR on the west side. The 4th Warsaw "goal" came in the 61st when a cross goes in front of Luke in the goal mouth and by the far goal post over the end line for what most people would think is a goal kick. The AR however believes he saw the ball come into the box, go past Luke, go over the goal line, come back out, go by the far post and then over the end line. If that would be physically possible, soccer balls should have turn signals! It can NOT take a left, a right and another left. There is no steering wheel on a soccer ball. So if you came to see three guys in yellow and hoping to see two of them wanting to add a large nose and big shoes to their costume, you came to the right place. It needs said that the Panthers did not play their best game and with some earlier mentioned miscues put themselves behind the 8 ball but it surely does not help when you have incompetent officiating. And that is what we got. The Panthers fall to 4-4-1. The JV lost 0-1. Today's practice will be shorter then normal; we will conclude practice by 4:45 pm.