After dropping last year’s IHSAA boys soccer regional semifinal game to Noblesville a year ago, Warsaw had a chance at revenge on Wednesday night at the Tiger Soccer Complex with the same stakes on the line. The Tigers got on the board early, but it was the Millers who wrapped up the scoring, winning 1-1 (4-3) on penalty kicks.
It was clear from the game’s first whistle that two top-notch programs would be competing for the spot in Kokomo’s regional final game on Saturday. The pace of play began at lightspeed and only got faster from there, as each side raced up and down the field, spreading the ball from left to right with ease. Warsaw’s Knox Ritter was possessed to start the game, covering all kinds of ground while making some great runs.
Despite the ball traveling from one side of the field to the other every other moment, the premier chances in the game’s early minutes belonged to the Millers, who didn’t waste much time testing the gloves of Tiger keeper Raul Carbajal.
Carbajal was able to answer the early challenges, allowing his team to start to rev up the counterattack. About 10 minutes into the game, the perfect counter would lead to Warsaw’s first real chance of the game. After a nice lead pass, Callen O’Brien found himself in front of the net with some room to spare. After making a slick move to get the step on his defender, O’Brien unloaded on a beautiful bending shot from just outside the box that curled perfectly into the upper right corner of the net for the game’s opener.

    Warsaw junior Callen O'Brien heads the ball during the first half of Wednesday night's regional soccer game against Noblesville. Photo by Gary Nieter

The game’s opening score seemed to energize the Tigers, who spent the next few minutes chasing a second. During this impressive stretch of play, Warsaw was able to win every 50/50 ball, bullying the Millers into winning possession and controlling the game. Time continued to tick down in the first half with the Tigers in command.
With around 10 minutes to go in the game’s opening 40, Noblesville was able to get back to what had provided them with some early success, leading to a pair of corner kicks and a flurry of other chances. While it looked as if the Millers were nearing finding an equalizer, Warsaw was able to keep the visitors off of the scoreboard in the first half, with Carbajal making a show-stopping save with about six minutes left.
Pace continued to accelerate as the second half began, with Noah VanPuffelen nearly doubling his team’s lead with a shot on goal three minutes in. Noblesville had its fair share of chances too, forcing Carbajal to make a leaping save on a nice header attempt minutes later.
As time continued to wind away and the Millers became more and more desperate for an equalizer, Noblesville began enjoying longer spells of possession in the attacking area. While the chances began to pile up, the Warsaw defense continued to shine, continuing to deny the goal.
After weathering the storm, the Tigers were able to find a couple more counterattack opportunities with VanPuffelen and Mydin Burgher each nearly putting in another score. With only 20 minutes remaining in the contest, it remained a 1-0 game.
Carbajal continued to impress in the game’s later stages, coming away with a few more huge saves as the game clock ticked down to 10 minutes left. Another great run by Ritter almost put the game out of reach, as VanPufflen almost found the back of the net off of the corner kick Ritter won.
The Tigers showed off their experience in the game’s final minutes, sacrificing runs on goal to possess the ball for longer and continue draining the clock. Five minutes remained and the stout Warsaw defense continued to turn away the Millers. With four minutes left, a costly foul just outside the box set up a prime scoring chance for the Millers, but the ensuing free kick soared over the net.
It looked as if the Tigers were going to find a way to burn the rest of the time, but with elimination nearing ever closer, the Millers were finally able to catch a break in the final two minutes. A long pass bounced over the head of Carbajal, who went up to field it, allowing for a Noblesville striker to get a head on it and put it in the back of the net. After leading for 68 of the game’s 80 minutes, Warsaw would have to find a way to win it in extra time.
After seizing momentum in the final moments of regulation, the Millers did well to control the pace in the first of two seven-minute extra time halves. Noblesville had a series of chances, including a freekick in the box after some miscommunication by the Tigers, but the Warsaw defense stayed strong. Despite the pressure from the visitors, the score remained tied with only seven minutes remaining before penalty kicks.
The first five minutes of extra-time’s second half went by relatively drama free, but a pair of corners and a freekick just outside of the box won by Warsaw in the final 120 seconds would give the Tigers a series of chances to send their fans home happy. The goal would not materialize though, leading to a resolution through penalty kicks.
VanPuffelen began the shootout by having his shot saved by the Noblesville keeper. The Millers put the pressure on the Tigers moments later, hitting a shot to make it 1-0. Rylan Smith put Warsaw on the board with his kick, and Carbajal came up big with a save on the next Millers’ shot to make it 1-1 after two rounds. Julian Saldivar gave his team their first lead of the shootout on the team’s third kick, but Noblesville quickly answered to keep it tied after three rounds. Braydon Bussard made it three makes in a row for the Tigers while the Millers answered once again. On the fifth attempt of the shootout, Ritter had his shot saved, giving Noblesville the opportunity to take the match. The Millers would do just that, hitting their fourth shot in five attempts to win the match and advance to the regional final in Kokomo.
The Tigers (15-4-1) will return next season.