Warsaw Soccer Team Eyes State Title
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Northern Lakes Conference titles. Sectionals. Regionals. Semistates.
Saturday in Indianapolis, the Tigers hope to add a state title to that list.
Class 2A No. 2 Warsaw will play No. 6 Columbus North at 3:30 p.m. at Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI.
“To go to state with these players is very special,” said Bauer. “With what we lost to graduation the last two years, there were a lot of people who didn’t believe we’d get to the state finals. This team has found its identity.”
In 2010, the Tigers played in the state finals of the old one-class system where four teams advanced to Indianapolis. They fell to Indianapolis Cathedral in the semifinal game.
Saturday’s Class 2A finals will be Warsaw’s first appearance in a state championship game in boys soccer.
After graduating a number of All-State and All-NLC players the past two seasons, Bauer has said this team has found its identity.
Defense has certainly been its calling card.
On the field, the Tigers are 20-1-2 (13-8-2 on paper because of a clerical error involving a player’s transfer scripts).
Warsaw, led by a veteran defensive group and standout keeper Michael Yantz, has given up just 11 goals in 23 games this season.
Only one team has scored multiple goals against the Tigers.
“The ball can bounce a weird way sometimes, but I believe my defense can keep Columbus North out of the goal. We’ve played a lot of good teams, and so far only one has been able to beat us.”
Since a 1-0 loss to Carroll on Sept. 8, the Tigers are 11-0-1. They’ve outscored their opponents 36-7 in those 12 games.
Senior Nathan Kolbe leads Warsaw with 20 goals and 11 assists, while classmate Diego Lopez has tallied 16 goals and four assists.
Junior Zack Tucker and senior Grant Allbritten have scored eight and six goals, respectively.
The Columbus North Bulldogs played in the state chamionship game last year, falling 1-0 to Crown Point in a penalty kick shootout.
They bring a 16-1-4 record into Saturday’s game.
Columbus North’s only loss is a 2-1 setback to Bloomington South on Sept. 18.
The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 52-19 this season.
“They’ve got a midfielder who leads them in goals,” Bauer said when asked what he knew about Columbus North. “We need to make sure we mark him. He’s a load. He’s about 6-2, 220 pounds.”
Senior Brad Shaw is that midfielder, and he leads the Bulldogs with 16 goals and eight assists.
Junior Keaton Voegerl is second on the team in goals scored with eight, while senior Tony Gonzalez has scored five times.
“We can’t let them get on fire,” said Bauer. “That’s what I’ve heard, they can catch fire.”
In their six state tournament games, the Bulldogs have scored at least three goals in five of them.
Warsaw and Columbus North have two common opponents.
The Tigers beat Northridge 3-0 on Sept. 27, while Columbus North tied the Raiders 2-2 nearly two weeks earlier.
Warsaw beat Fort Wayne Canterbury 1-0 on Sept. 18, while the Bulldogs beat Canterbury 4-3 four days earlier.[[In-content Ad]]
Northern Lakes Conference titles. Sectionals. Regionals. Semistates.
Saturday in Indianapolis, the Tigers hope to add a state title to that list.
Class 2A No. 2 Warsaw will play No. 6 Columbus North at 3:30 p.m. at Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI.
“To go to state with these players is very special,” said Bauer. “With what we lost to graduation the last two years, there were a lot of people who didn’t believe we’d get to the state finals. This team has found its identity.”
In 2010, the Tigers played in the state finals of the old one-class system where four teams advanced to Indianapolis. They fell to Indianapolis Cathedral in the semifinal game.
Saturday’s Class 2A finals will be Warsaw’s first appearance in a state championship game in boys soccer.
After graduating a number of All-State and All-NLC players the past two seasons, Bauer has said this team has found its identity.
Defense has certainly been its calling card.
On the field, the Tigers are 20-1-2 (13-8-2 on paper because of a clerical error involving a player’s transfer scripts).
Warsaw, led by a veteran defensive group and standout keeper Michael Yantz, has given up just 11 goals in 23 games this season.
Only one team has scored multiple goals against the Tigers.
“The ball can bounce a weird way sometimes, but I believe my defense can keep Columbus North out of the goal. We’ve played a lot of good teams, and so far only one has been able to beat us.”
Since a 1-0 loss to Carroll on Sept. 8, the Tigers are 11-0-1. They’ve outscored their opponents 36-7 in those 12 games.
Senior Nathan Kolbe leads Warsaw with 20 goals and 11 assists, while classmate Diego Lopez has tallied 16 goals and four assists.
Junior Zack Tucker and senior Grant Allbritten have scored eight and six goals, respectively.
The Columbus North Bulldogs played in the state chamionship game last year, falling 1-0 to Crown Point in a penalty kick shootout.
They bring a 16-1-4 record into Saturday’s game.
Columbus North’s only loss is a 2-1 setback to Bloomington South on Sept. 18.
The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 52-19 this season.
“They’ve got a midfielder who leads them in goals,” Bauer said when asked what he knew about Columbus North. “We need to make sure we mark him. He’s a load. He’s about 6-2, 220 pounds.”
Senior Brad Shaw is that midfielder, and he leads the Bulldogs with 16 goals and eight assists.
Junior Keaton Voegerl is second on the team in goals scored with eight, while senior Tony Gonzalez has scored five times.
“We can’t let them get on fire,” said Bauer. “That’s what I’ve heard, they can catch fire.”
In their six state tournament games, the Bulldogs have scored at least three goals in five of them.
Warsaw and Columbus North have two common opponents.
The Tigers beat Northridge 3-0 on Sept. 27, while Columbus North tied the Raiders 2-2 nearly two weeks earlier.
Warsaw beat Fort Wayne Canterbury 1-0 on Sept. 18, while the Bulldogs beat Canterbury 4-3 four days earlier.[[In-content Ad]]
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