Marian Snaps Warsaw Kickers’ Win Streak
August 29, 2021 at 9:21 p.m.
Marian Snaps Warsaw Kickers’ Win Streak
By Dale [email protected]
Hosting the undefeated Mishawaka Marian Knights Saturday, the Tigers trailed 2-0 at halftime, evened the score after the intermission, but wound up falling 4-2.
“I told the guys from the very beginning of this game that we beat Plymouth on Thursday, and we were so up for that game, but we can’t have a letdown,” said Burgher, whose squad dropped its record to 4-2 overall.
“I told them we have to stay up. The good teams can play good for a game, but the great teams have to continue, it can’t just stop. In the first half, I think we were just down from the emotional high that we were on Thursday. It’s something we talked about, but Marian came out and scored two goals on us, and at halftime we tried to get the guys fired back up and we talked about winning the second half.”
The Knights, who improved to 5-0, scored in the 15th minute of the 80-minute match when senior Joe Baughman converted a penalty kick.
In the 36th minute, sophomore Eli Moody pushed the visitors’ advantage to 2-0.
Warsaw got things going after the break, and a goal from sophomore Eduardo Escutia trimmed the deficit in half in the 62nd minute.
Three minutes later, the hosts were even on the scoreboard after junior Dennis Hernandez made good on a penalty kick.
Warsaw had the momentum on its side. The Tigers were controlling play, and Burgher said he was to blame after he made some substitutions, as Marian junior Jaxson Hundt scored in the 71st minute, and a minute later Moody netted his second goal of the contest.
“I brought up two guys from junior varsity, Kevin O’Neill and Benji (Benjamin Rodriguez), and we subbed them in in the middle of the field … we switched to a 3-5-2 … and those two were dominating the middle of the field for us,” said Burgher.
“I should have left them in, but I subbed, and that’s my fault. It’s on me. We had all the momentum, and I should have left the guys in that were playing really well. I wanted to get back to some of our starters, and after I subbed I feel like we lost the middle of the field.”
The Tigers, who had outscored their opponents 19-2 during their win streak, are back in action Wednesday when they travel to Dunlap for a key Northern Lakes Conference battle with Concord.
“I’m trying to let the guys know our main focus is on the conference,” said Burgher. “When I judge these guys (Marian), they beat Concord 3-2, and we play at Concord Wednesday. So with two days of practice (Monday and Tuesday) we can get back on level ground, and it shows us that we can compete in conference with Concord Wednesday. And if that’s a game we can win, we’re looking really good in conference after beating Plymouth, the previous conference champs. I’m trying to get the guys to remember that’s what it’s about .. we want to win conference.
“Of course we all hate to lose, but losing to Marian doesn’t mean anything in our conference chase, or our sectional chase.”
E-Editions
Hosting the undefeated Mishawaka Marian Knights Saturday, the Tigers trailed 2-0 at halftime, evened the score after the intermission, but wound up falling 4-2.
“I told the guys from the very beginning of this game that we beat Plymouth on Thursday, and we were so up for that game, but we can’t have a letdown,” said Burgher, whose squad dropped its record to 4-2 overall.
“I told them we have to stay up. The good teams can play good for a game, but the great teams have to continue, it can’t just stop. In the first half, I think we were just down from the emotional high that we were on Thursday. It’s something we talked about, but Marian came out and scored two goals on us, and at halftime we tried to get the guys fired back up and we talked about winning the second half.”
The Knights, who improved to 5-0, scored in the 15th minute of the 80-minute match when senior Joe Baughman converted a penalty kick.
In the 36th minute, sophomore Eli Moody pushed the visitors’ advantage to 2-0.
Warsaw got things going after the break, and a goal from sophomore Eduardo Escutia trimmed the deficit in half in the 62nd minute.
Three minutes later, the hosts were even on the scoreboard after junior Dennis Hernandez made good on a penalty kick.
Warsaw had the momentum on its side. The Tigers were controlling play, and Burgher said he was to blame after he made some substitutions, as Marian junior Jaxson Hundt scored in the 71st minute, and a minute later Moody netted his second goal of the contest.
“I brought up two guys from junior varsity, Kevin O’Neill and Benji (Benjamin Rodriguez), and we subbed them in in the middle of the field … we switched to a 3-5-2 … and those two were dominating the middle of the field for us,” said Burgher.
“I should have left them in, but I subbed, and that’s my fault. It’s on me. We had all the momentum, and I should have left the guys in that were playing really well. I wanted to get back to some of our starters, and after I subbed I feel like we lost the middle of the field.”
The Tigers, who had outscored their opponents 19-2 during their win streak, are back in action Wednesday when they travel to Dunlap for a key Northern Lakes Conference battle with Concord.
“I’m trying to let the guys know our main focus is on the conference,” said Burgher. “When I judge these guys (Marian), they beat Concord 3-2, and we play at Concord Wednesday. So with two days of practice (Monday and Tuesday) we can get back on level ground, and it shows us that we can compete in conference with Concord Wednesday. And if that’s a game we can win, we’re looking really good in conference after beating Plymouth, the previous conference champs. I’m trying to get the guys to remember that’s what it’s about .. we want to win conference.
“Of course we all hate to lose, but losing to Marian doesn’t mean anything in our conference chase, or our sectional chase.”
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