Warsaw senior Jon Earhart (L) and Wawasee junior Jay Haugh go for the ball Tuesday in the Columbia City Boys' Soccer Sectional. Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union

COLUMBIA CITY - It is probably a good thing for Warsaw that this would be the last time it will meet Wawasee this season on the soccer field. Every time the two teams match up, the Warriors seem to show marked improvement and get that much closer.

Earlier this year, Warsaw beat Wawasee 3-1 only after scoring two late goals. The rematch saw the Tigers coming out with a 2-1 win in the first round of the Columbia City Sectional, but the margin keeps shrinking.

"It reminded me of the regular season (matchup), but I think they come out a little more intensely than the regular season because the consequences of losing are one (loss) and done," Warsaw coach Corey Rose said. "They put up a great battle. It is probably the best game I have seen from a Wawasee team since they have had a program."

Despite getting outshot by 20 attempts on goal, the Warriors were right in the match throughout, maybe on heart and intensity more than anything. The Tigers dominated play through the middle of the field, but because it was only a one-goal game, it was still undecided until the final seconds ticked off.

"We played about as well as we can play," Wawasee coach Paul Boyd said. "Warsaw brings out the best in us. The guys really get up for the Warsaw match.

"It is a good rivalry," he said. "We will get them. They are making us a better soccer team. We always come out a better soccer team after playing Warsaw. They won't see it now, but we will grow from this."

All the scoring took place in the first half. Less than 10 minutes into the match, Warsaw's Jeremiah Wallen took a pass from Nate Krogel and put it past Wawasee goalie Rob Pinney for a 1-0 Warsaw lead.

Wawasee would come right back about four minutes later when Marcelo Azenha continued his late-season surge, after taking a pass from Niko Ioannou, with a goal to knot the count at 1-1.

The eventual game-winner would come from Josh Wallen with just over 10 minutes left in the half on a free kick.

The margin could have been greater, but Warsaw had a goal waved off in the second half, and Wawasee's Matt Stump made a sparkling defensive play to back up Pinney when he was beaten on a header, getting to a shot that had almost crossed the line for a goal.

"We just didn't put the ball away when we needed to, easy chances in front of the goal that we blow," Rose said. "We don't want to play our best game tonight. Come Thursday, we are going to have to play our best game.

"We must have had five easy shots in front of the goal that we didn't put away," he said. "When we have 24 or so shots on goal, and their keeper only has six saves, something is wrong and we are not putting them on goal."

The Tigers get another rematch on Thursday at 8 p.m. when they face Carroll (12-1-4), a 5-0 winner over Peru, in the sectional semifinals. Carroll handed Warsaw (10-3-4) an earlier 3-0 loss.

"Warsaw is good," Boyd said. "They will give Carroll a heck of a match. That winner (Carroll vs. Warsaw) will win the sectional."

Warsaw, 7-0-3 in its last 10 games, will be counting on its stingy defense to hold Carroll out of goal and give its offense time to come around.

"The key will be our intensity and defense," Rose said. "If we can keep them out of the goal, we have the ability to score."

Wawasee finishes the season at 6-7-3.

WARSAW 2, WAWASEE 1

Warsaw 2 0 - 2

Wawasee 1 0 - 1

Goals - First half, Jeremiah Whallen (War) 8:23; Marcelo Azenha (Waw) 9:44; Josh Whallen 30:04

Shots on goal - Warsaw 25, Wawasee 5 [[In-content Ad]]