The fantastic start to the season that Warsaw boys soccer has enjoyed this fall got even better on Monday night. Hosting Plymouth for the team’s first Northern Lakes Conference game of the season, the Tigers throttled the Rockies, winning 7-0 to remain undefeated this season at 6-0, 1-0 in the NLC.
The work Warsaw has done so far this season has not gone unnoticed. On Monday’s Indiana Soccer Coaches Association poll, the Tigers were ranked No. 13 in the state for Class 3A.
It didn’t take the Tigers long to put pressure on their conference rivals. In the game’s first minute, Warsaw found its first major opportunity of the game. Known for his ability to put the ball in the back of the net, senior forward Noah VanPuffelen did his best to help a teammate find the scoresheet, putting a picture perfect cross in front of the net. Unfortunately for him and his team, the two Tigers in the area were just out of reach.
Warsaw wouldn’t have to wait much longer afterwards to see a chance converted. In the sixth minute, the Tiger front line split the defense perfectly, creating an advantage situation right in front of the net. With plenty of options, senior defender Knox Ritter picked out fellow upperclassman Eduardo Escutia, who did the rest.

    Warsaw senior Eduardo Escutia (L) works his way toward the goal as Plymouth's Billy Caro Acuahuitl defends. Photo by Gary Nieter
 

The early goal would set the tone for a first half that was largely dominated by Warsaw. For a majority of the first 40 minutes, the ball had a hard time getting out of the Plymouth side of the field. When the Rockies did have the ball, the team’s offense was mostly nonexistent, partially due to the stout Tiger defense that has impressed across the state so far this fall. On the rare chance a Plymouth player was able to escape the suffocating Warsaw midfield, senior defender Braydon Bussard was there in no time to clean up the mess.
In the game’s 26th minute, the Tigers had another big chance after a foul just outside of the goalie box. Julian Saldivar would attempt the free kick, taking a wicked shot that would force a tough save.
Though that chance didn’t pan out, two minutes later, Warsaw doubled its lead anyways. Sophomore Mydin Burgher, who checked in just minutes earlier, made an immediate impact. Playing on the right wing and making life difficult for his defender all night, Burgher was able to get past the defense and put a picture-perfect cross right into the right boot of VanPuffelen, who took advantage of the easy chance and hit the back of the net.
Five minutes later, Burgher struck again. In a very similar style to the previous goal, the sophomore raced past his defender to create space, but this time took his time. With the Plymouth defense collapsing all around him, Burgher flicked it back to Ritter, who finished off the job with a laser of his own.
Now up 3-0 and with the crowd behind them, Warsaw continued to apply the pressure. In the final minute of the half, the Tigers would get another goal from Escutia with just eight seconds left, putting an exclamation point on an incredibly impressive first 40.
The Rockies began the second half with signs of life, doing better at keeping possessions and nearly scoring their first goal of the night on a corner kick. This newfound energy would not last long however, as not long later, the Tigers would get back to dominating the possession game and limiting chances.
The first ten minutes of the first half went by without much action aside from an impressive tackle or a Warsaw chance. But in minute 51, the Tigers were able to extend their lead once again. This time, it was a mad scramble in front of the goal, with two or three players from each side fighting for possession in front of the net. All of a sudden, it rolled right in.
With the result all but finalized, the only question that remained would be if the Tigers would extend their lead even further. It looked like it was only a matter of time, as Callen O’Brien would hit the crossbar twice in the next seven minutes, and Tanner Reynolds hitting the post with a header not long after.
With ten minutes left in the game, the sixth goal finally materialized. After another bum rush on goal, a great day for Burgher got even better, as he was able to tap in the last touch on the ball, guiding it in the net to make it a half dozen for the Tigers.
A minute later, after just barely missing on a few attempts already this half, O’Brien was finally able to get onto the scoresheet with a perfectly placed kick to put the cherry on top of the victory.
No. 13 Warsaw plays its next three games on the road, the first of which coming on Wednesday against conference opponent Concord.