Tigers Win Home Finale, Courtois Honored
September 27, 2019 at 3:15 a.m.
Tigers Win Home Finale, Courtois Honored
By Anthony Anderson-
His Warsaw Tigers were not, though.
With a crisp performance nearly throughout, they moved a step closer to presenting their retiring head coach with his first Northern Lakes Conference boys soccer title by beating Goshen 2-1 in their home finale Thursday night.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” Courtois said of pregame festivities honoring him for his 20 years of service to Warsaw boys and girls soccer in varying capacities, including the last five years as boys head coach. “I was completely surprised by that.”
Courtois, who informed school officials and his team before the season of his retirement plan, was presented by Warsaw Community Schools superintendent David Hoffert and athletic director Matt Binkerd with a plaque, as well as lifetime passes for him and his family to home athletic events.
Senior Jorge Rico-Giron scored 53 seconds into the second half off a slick cross from junior Alejandro Murillo to put the Tigers up 1-0.
Senior Tedros Berelsman doubled the lead to 2-0 at 23:21 to go on a close-range header off a 30-yard free kick from junior Ethan Grill.
“I’ve been playing (varsity) for him since freshman year and he’s always believed in us,” Berelsman said of Courtois. “We believe in him and he believes in us. It’s kind of sad for all of us that it’s the last home game, but it’s been a good four years.”
“It’s huge to win this one,” senior Blake Burns said. “We’ve got 15 seniors, and we’ve tied Goshen a couple times, but we’d never beaten them. We wanted this one badly.”
Class 3A No. 7-ranked Warsaw (13-2 overall) improved to 5-0 in the NLC with league matches remaining Tuesday at Wawasee and next Thursday at Northridge.
The Raiders (2-0-2 in NLC play) maintain a mathematical chance of catching the Tigers, but will have win out if Warsaw beats the Warriors.
“No matter what the standings are, we go into every game to win,” Burns said. “That’s not going to change.”
No. 20-rated Goshen slipped to 8-6 overall and closed at 4-3 in the NLC with Thursday’s loss.
“They kept us under pressure,” Courtois said, “but I don’t think there was any way they were going to break us down in the back (twice). Our guys played really well back there.”
The RedHawks closed to 2-1 when Chris Lozano blistered home a shot from 25 yards with 18:31 remaining.
Goshen stayed on the attack the rest of the way and would’ve tied the game if not for a point-blank save by Tiger senior keeper Harrison Mevis with 12 minutes to go.
Shots on goal would up even at six apiece. Warsaw had four corner kicks to the Hawks’ three.
The Tigers’ initial goal featured Murillo aggresively fetching a loose ball in the left corner and in almost one motion circling and getting off the cross to Rico-Giron.
Grill’s feed to Berelsman was also right on the mark.
“I think it was the sixth piece the two of us have scored on together,” Berelsman said. “We’re trying to be one of the best dynamic duos in the state. ... Both goals tonight were off perfect passes. That’s how they usually become goals.”
Warsaw won its fifth straight game. The Tigers’ only losses this season are to 2A top-ranked Marian (11-1-1 entering the night) and 3A No. 2 Carroll (14-0-1 on the field to go with two forfeits).
“It’s hard to comprehend that we’re not going to be playing at home together anymore,” Courtois said. “It’s really tough for all of us. I’ve had those (15) seniors the last four years.”
Courtois said he made the decison to “take a break” based on an illness he experienced last year.
He credited assistant James Hornaday and the rest of his staff with making the transition into this season a smooth one.
His Warsaw Tigers were not, though.
With a crisp performance nearly throughout, they moved a step closer to presenting their retiring head coach with his first Northern Lakes Conference boys soccer title by beating Goshen 2-1 in their home finale Thursday night.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” Courtois said of pregame festivities honoring him for his 20 years of service to Warsaw boys and girls soccer in varying capacities, including the last five years as boys head coach. “I was completely surprised by that.”
Courtois, who informed school officials and his team before the season of his retirement plan, was presented by Warsaw Community Schools superintendent David Hoffert and athletic director Matt Binkerd with a plaque, as well as lifetime passes for him and his family to home athletic events.
Senior Jorge Rico-Giron scored 53 seconds into the second half off a slick cross from junior Alejandro Murillo to put the Tigers up 1-0.
Senior Tedros Berelsman doubled the lead to 2-0 at 23:21 to go on a close-range header off a 30-yard free kick from junior Ethan Grill.
“I’ve been playing (varsity) for him since freshman year and he’s always believed in us,” Berelsman said of Courtois. “We believe in him and he believes in us. It’s kind of sad for all of us that it’s the last home game, but it’s been a good four years.”
“It’s huge to win this one,” senior Blake Burns said. “We’ve got 15 seniors, and we’ve tied Goshen a couple times, but we’d never beaten them. We wanted this one badly.”
Class 3A No. 7-ranked Warsaw (13-2 overall) improved to 5-0 in the NLC with league matches remaining Tuesday at Wawasee and next Thursday at Northridge.
The Raiders (2-0-2 in NLC play) maintain a mathematical chance of catching the Tigers, but will have win out if Warsaw beats the Warriors.
“No matter what the standings are, we go into every game to win,” Burns said. “That’s not going to change.”
No. 20-rated Goshen slipped to 8-6 overall and closed at 4-3 in the NLC with Thursday’s loss.
“They kept us under pressure,” Courtois said, “but I don’t think there was any way they were going to break us down in the back (twice). Our guys played really well back there.”
The RedHawks closed to 2-1 when Chris Lozano blistered home a shot from 25 yards with 18:31 remaining.
Goshen stayed on the attack the rest of the way and would’ve tied the game if not for a point-blank save by Tiger senior keeper Harrison Mevis with 12 minutes to go.
Shots on goal would up even at six apiece. Warsaw had four corner kicks to the Hawks’ three.
The Tigers’ initial goal featured Murillo aggresively fetching a loose ball in the left corner and in almost one motion circling and getting off the cross to Rico-Giron.
Grill’s feed to Berelsman was also right on the mark.
“I think it was the sixth piece the two of us have scored on together,” Berelsman said. “We’re trying to be one of the best dynamic duos in the state. ... Both goals tonight were off perfect passes. That’s how they usually become goals.”
Warsaw won its fifth straight game. The Tigers’ only losses this season are to 2A top-ranked Marian (11-1-1 entering the night) and 3A No. 2 Carroll (14-0-1 on the field to go with two forfeits).
“It’s hard to comprehend that we’re not going to be playing at home together anymore,” Courtois said. “It’s really tough for all of us. I’ve had those (15) seniors the last four years.”
Courtois said he made the decison to “take a break” based on an illness he experienced last year.
He credited assistant James Hornaday and the rest of his staff with making the transition into this season a smooth one.
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