SOUTH BEND -ÊThe theme for the Warsaw Tiger girls soccer team Saturday was respect.

This year's squad was in search of respect that seemed to elude them all year long. The Tigers breezed through the regular season, sectional and regional to find themselves facing a tough South Bend Adams team in its own backyard.

The Eagles were able to hold off an upstart and motivated Tiger squad for a 2-1 victory Saturday and a meeting in the South Bend Semistate final against eventual champion Chesterton.

Warsaw went into Saturday's matchup against the Eagles with a 17-1-2 record. Yet the Tigers were nowhere to be found on the final regular season Top 20 coaches' poll.

Warsaw set the school record for most wins, went through the NLC undefeated, and had a 14-game winning steak, yet got no respect.

First year coach Mike Getz is the first one to vocalize what many people have thought about his team.

"There was a lot of talk about how we had the easy road in here and that we didn't deserve to be here," said Getz. "A 2-1 score shows that we deserve to be here. We played even for most of the game."

The game itself saw most of the action and all the scoring take place in the first half.

Adams' Lynn Ruskowski scored the game's first goal with an assist by Megan Marshall 24:38 into the match.

Warsaw wasted no time responding. Sophomore Lindsay Anderson evened things up with help from Amy Abbitt at the 25:35 mark.

Then Warsaw made an uncharacteristic mistake.

All year, the Tiger squad relied on a staunch defense. The team racked up 12 shutouts during the course of the season.

That defense had a mental breakdown with 40 seconds left in the half when Korin Maciulski drove in and scored the eventual game-winning goal.

While Warsaw's defense clamped down in the second half shutting out the eagles, the offense was unable to break through Adams' defense to respond.

Warsaw managed 10 shots on goal but Anderson's was the only one to find the back of the net.

"Our defense broke down a little bit and they scored," said Getz. "A good team takes advantage of their opportunities and they're a good team. But I think we proved we deserved to be out there. And that's something they weren't expecting. I think they thought they were getting the easy game for the day."

Getz was quick to put a spin on the loss, with good reason.

He returns his two leading scorers next year in junior Ashley Kitchens and freshman Amy Durgin. Freshman goalkeeper Brittany Burgess, who took over net minding duties during the season, returns as well.

Getz, however, like a good coach in any sport, is defensive minded and that will take a hit next year with the loss of senior defensive leaders.

"Our defense has been our strength all year," said Getz. "We've been able with the speed of our defense in Claire Beckett, Trista Wadkins, Emma Bean and Katie Sudhoff. We've been able to shut down most teams. Wadkins is the only one in that group returning next year. "

Expectations were admittedly lower for this year's squad. Seven seniors departed from last years' squad, and with Getz being a first-year coach no one expected this team to return to semistate after a trip last year.

This, however, was a team that overachieved all year with little recognition.

It was thought that in Indiana, girls soccer was relegated to the metropolitan areas, South Bend, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.

But with both the boys and girls soccer teams for Warsaw advancing to the semistate, perhaps that list might be expanded to add a small lake town of 15,000.

After the game players, and parents alike approached Getz. Not only did his team get the respect they deserved he did as well.

Much like Phil Jensen's resurrection of a long dormant football program a few years ago, Getz looks to build this program up.

"Warsaw is going to get more recognition for the quality of soccer we play, with both of our team's making it here today," said Getz. "For next year we're returning 13 seniors. So I can't start everyone who's going to be a senior. I have freshman and other underclassmen starting so the competition for next year will be fierce so that should help us build."

Warsaw finishes the year at 17-2-2.

SOUTH BEND ADAMS 2, WARSAW 1

Scoring Summary

A - Lynn Ruskowski (unassisted) 25th minute

W - Lindsay Anderson (Amy Abbitt assist) 26th minute

A - Korin Maciulski (Megan Marshall) 40th

Halftime score: Adams 2, Warsaw 1

Shots: Adams 10, Warsaw 10.

Shots on goal: Adams 6, Warsaw 7

Saves: Adams 6 (Timeka Bailey), Warsaw 4 (Brittany Burgess)

Corner kicks: Adams 4, Warsaw 2

Fouls: Adams 19, Warsaw 16

Offsides: Adams 1, Warsaw 1 [[In-content Ad]]