Lady Tigers Win Another Shootout, Sectional
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
After defeating the hosting Plymouth Lady Rockies in a penalty kick shootout Thursday, the Warsaw Lady Tigers (13-2-2) did the same in the championship game Saturday against the NorthWood Lady Panthers (9-5-4).
Following 80 minutes of regulation and 14 minutes of overtime action, the score remained knotted at 0-0, which initiated the penalty kick shootout, which allows each team to bring out five shooters, with the best score winning.
Through four kickers, the teams were tied at 2-2, but from there, Warsaw sophomore goalkeeper Abby Schue stopped the next three Panther shots, while junior Gabby Monroy, Warsaw's fourth shooter, scored, giving her team the 3-2 shootout win.
"I was more nervous for this one than I was for the (shootout against Plymouth)," Warsaw coach Dan Miller said. "They were watching us in the PK shootout Thursday. Credit to the girls for stepping up and taking some clutch shots."
The girls that made those shots were senior Emily Williamson, freshman Brooklyn Jackson and Monroy, helping Warsaw nab its second-straight sectional title and the program's fifth overall.
"Just incredible composure and incredible fortitude by those girls," Miller said.
Now, the Lady Tigers travel to the South Bend Riley Regional, where they'll face No. 8 South Bend St. Joe Wednesday at 7 p.m. A win in that match would send them into Saturday's 7 p.m. regional championship against either Penn or Goshen.
And while the shootout performances of the shooters required some composure, it wasn't anything close to what Schue had to do.
"What can you say about her?," Miller said about Schue. "Words can't describe her. Three saves, and the last one to win it was incredible. She was just incredible tonight."
In the semifinal win over Plymouth, Schue stopped three of the Lady Rockies' three attempts in the shootout, and came back around to do the same thing in the championship.
Prior to Thursday's shootout performance, Schue's only experience in the situation was in a junior varsity tournament last season, as varsity shootouts are only implemented in postseason play.
"I like to have fun, but obviously, there's still a little bit of pressure," Schue said about her mindset entering a shootout.
And Schue's pre-shot routine would suggest she's having fun.
"My thing is, I wink at people to psyche them out, but the first two didn't look at me," she said. "So, I just said, 'OK, I'll just wink at the last three and try to psyche them out.' I just tried to stay positive."
Schue's performance helped get the Lady Tigers a win in a game in which NorthWood seemed to be a step quicker for the most part.
"They played very well," Miller said about NorthWood, a team Warsaw had beaten 2-0 in the regular season. "They hadn't been beaten in eight games, going 7-0-1. They were peaking at the right time, and NorthWood always seems to do this under (coach Phil Ummel). He's a good coach. They played well. They played hard, and we didn't play good possession soccer like I would have liked to at times. But, overall, we started to take control a little more in the final 10 minutes. I don't know if we were nervous or what, but we began to play better possession soccer."
Warsaw did pick up its play in the final 10 minutes of regulation, but NorthWood had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 65th minute.
During a mini-scrum in the front of the Warsaw net, NorthWood sophomore Ariana Eshelman had a shot on goal when Schue was caught out of the net, but she missed. Then, she got another shot when the ball came back her way, but this time she shot too high, keeping the score locked at 0-0.
Going into the shootout, NorthWood had gotten five shots on goal to Warsaw's two, and even after the win, Warsaw is still looking for a non-penalty kick goal in two postseason games. Against Plymouth, Warsaw entered the shootout in a 1-1 tie, having scored on a penalty kick in the 74th minute.
"I'd love to end a run of play with a goal," Miller said. "We've been close, but we haven't scored one yet."
In uniform for the championship game was junior Meredith Hollar, Warsaw's leading scorer from a year ago who her tore her ACL in the spring and has been out all season. But despite her being dressed, and participating in some pre-game drills, Miller says she "probably" won't be seeing any live-game action.
"It's pretty much about her being a part of the team," Miller said. "She's a great supporter and I know it kills her not to be on the field."
WARSAW 1, NORTHWOOD 0 (Shootout)
Shots — Warsaw 6, NorthWood 9; Shots on Goal — Warsaw 2, NorthWood 5; Saves — Warsaw (Abby Schue) 4, NorthWood (Danae Ehret) 2; Fouls (yellow card) — Warsaw 12 (Emily Williamson), NorthWood 8; Offsides — Warsaw 0, NorthWood 0; Corner Kicks — Warsaw 3, NorthWood 4; Records: Warsaw 13-2-2, NorthWood 9-5-4[[In-content Ad]]
After defeating the hosting Plymouth Lady Rockies in a penalty kick shootout Thursday, the Warsaw Lady Tigers (13-2-2) did the same in the championship game Saturday against the NorthWood Lady Panthers (9-5-4).
Following 80 minutes of regulation and 14 minutes of overtime action, the score remained knotted at 0-0, which initiated the penalty kick shootout, which allows each team to bring out five shooters, with the best score winning.
Through four kickers, the teams were tied at 2-2, but from there, Warsaw sophomore goalkeeper Abby Schue stopped the next three Panther shots, while junior Gabby Monroy, Warsaw's fourth shooter, scored, giving her team the 3-2 shootout win.
"I was more nervous for this one than I was for the (shootout against Plymouth)," Warsaw coach Dan Miller said. "They were watching us in the PK shootout Thursday. Credit to the girls for stepping up and taking some clutch shots."
The girls that made those shots were senior Emily Williamson, freshman Brooklyn Jackson and Monroy, helping Warsaw nab its second-straight sectional title and the program's fifth overall.
"Just incredible composure and incredible fortitude by those girls," Miller said.
Now, the Lady Tigers travel to the South Bend Riley Regional, where they'll face No. 8 South Bend St. Joe Wednesday at 7 p.m. A win in that match would send them into Saturday's 7 p.m. regional championship against either Penn or Goshen.
And while the shootout performances of the shooters required some composure, it wasn't anything close to what Schue had to do.
"What can you say about her?," Miller said about Schue. "Words can't describe her. Three saves, and the last one to win it was incredible. She was just incredible tonight."
In the semifinal win over Plymouth, Schue stopped three of the Lady Rockies' three attempts in the shootout, and came back around to do the same thing in the championship.
Prior to Thursday's shootout performance, Schue's only experience in the situation was in a junior varsity tournament last season, as varsity shootouts are only implemented in postseason play.
"I like to have fun, but obviously, there's still a little bit of pressure," Schue said about her mindset entering a shootout.
And Schue's pre-shot routine would suggest she's having fun.
"My thing is, I wink at people to psyche them out, but the first two didn't look at me," she said. "So, I just said, 'OK, I'll just wink at the last three and try to psyche them out.' I just tried to stay positive."
Schue's performance helped get the Lady Tigers a win in a game in which NorthWood seemed to be a step quicker for the most part.
"They played very well," Miller said about NorthWood, a team Warsaw had beaten 2-0 in the regular season. "They hadn't been beaten in eight games, going 7-0-1. They were peaking at the right time, and NorthWood always seems to do this under (coach Phil Ummel). He's a good coach. They played well. They played hard, and we didn't play good possession soccer like I would have liked to at times. But, overall, we started to take control a little more in the final 10 minutes. I don't know if we were nervous or what, but we began to play better possession soccer."
Warsaw did pick up its play in the final 10 minutes of regulation, but NorthWood had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 65th minute.
During a mini-scrum in the front of the Warsaw net, NorthWood sophomore Ariana Eshelman had a shot on goal when Schue was caught out of the net, but she missed. Then, she got another shot when the ball came back her way, but this time she shot too high, keeping the score locked at 0-0.
Going into the shootout, NorthWood had gotten five shots on goal to Warsaw's two, and even after the win, Warsaw is still looking for a non-penalty kick goal in two postseason games. Against Plymouth, Warsaw entered the shootout in a 1-1 tie, having scored on a penalty kick in the 74th minute.
"I'd love to end a run of play with a goal," Miller said. "We've been close, but we haven't scored one yet."
In uniform for the championship game was junior Meredith Hollar, Warsaw's leading scorer from a year ago who her tore her ACL in the spring and has been out all season. But despite her being dressed, and participating in some pre-game drills, Miller says she "probably" won't be seeing any live-game action.
"It's pretty much about her being a part of the team," Miller said. "She's a great supporter and I know it kills her not to be on the field."
WARSAW 1, NORTHWOOD 0 (Shootout)
Shots — Warsaw 6, NorthWood 9; Shots on Goal — Warsaw 2, NorthWood 5; Saves — Warsaw (Abby Schue) 4, NorthWood (Danae Ehret) 2; Fouls (yellow card) — Warsaw 12 (Emily Williamson), NorthWood 8; Offsides — Warsaw 0, NorthWood 0; Corner Kicks — Warsaw 3, NorthWood 4; Records: Warsaw 13-2-2, NorthWood 9-5-4[[In-content Ad]]
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