Fresh off of a 4-0 win over Fort Wayne South Side earlier in the week, the Warsaw boys soccer team came home to the Tiger Soccer Complex Thursday night to take on St. Joseph for its first game in front of their home crowd this fall. Those in attendance enjoyed a fine showing, as the Tigers scored three goals in the first half on their way to a 3-0 victory.
From the game’s opening moments onward, it was clear that the Tigers meant business. The boys in black spent a majority of the game’s first few minutes on the St. Joseph half of the field, creating a ton of pressure with precise passing and ball control. Two and a half minutes in, Warsaw put together the game’s first big chance with junior Mydin Burgher sailing a shot over the crossbar. Working hard for the entirety of the first half, Burgher wouldn’t have to wait long to get another chance.
Eight minutes into the opening 40 minutes, Warsaw goalkeeper Finn Bailey had to make his first save of the game. It wasn’t a difficult one, as the Husky shot off of the free kick went right into his outstretched arms.
Just minutes after that, with the Tigers threatening again, the home team was able to capitalize this time around. A handball by a St. Joe defender inside the box resulted in a penalty kick for senior midfielder Callen O’Brien. He buried the chance with no hesitation, going right up the middle with it.
The Huskies were able to formulate an answer with a chance of their own a few minutes later, but the shot in the final third sailed past the outside post of the goal and no damage was done. Warsaw continued to control possession and play, but no serious chances were generated as time winded down.
The visitors came inches away from equalizing with 13 minutes left in the half after a defensive lapse by Warsaw led to an odd-man rush for St. Joe. Bailey came up big with a massive save here, a much more difficult one than his first to keep the visitors scoreless.
O’Brien almost made it two goals just two minutes later on a rocket from just outside the box, but an incredible one-handed save by Husky goalie Brodie Hill kept it out. Hill wouldn’t keep Warsaw off of the scoreboard for much longer, as Burgher reached his right foot out on an excellent cross with seven minutes left to make it 2-0.
Even with a two-goal advantage, the Tigers continued to keep their foot on the pedal as the half winded down, and it would pay off for them. Burgher added his second goal of the half with four minutes remaining to give his team a 3-0 lead heading into halftime.

    Senior Ashton Ault of Warsaw controls the ball during the first half of Thursday night's home match against St. Joseph...Nieter

Needing something and needing it soon, St. Joe was able to dictate the game a little bit better as the game got going, spending more time on the Warsaw side of the field in the first six minutes than they did the entirety of the first half. The Tiger defense was able to stand tall however, keeping the clean sheet as time winded down.
After the initial blitz by the Huskies, the home side was able to settle back down and get back to controlling the game. The Tigers weren’t frantically generating chances as was the case earlier in the contest, but they were able to keep possession and keep the visitors from gaining any momentum. Soon, 15 minutes had passed with Warsaw still holding onto a 3-0 lead.
Things continued to slow down as the two sides reached and passed the midway mark of the second half before a rocket from just inside the box by Andy Vass forced the first save of the second half by Hill. The moment seemed to revitalize Vass’ teammates, as Warsaw spent the next few minutes peppering the Huskies with shots, but to no avail.
Soon, there was just 10 minutes remaining in the match and the visitors were no closer to scoring their first goal of the contest. Warsaw continued to control every aspect of the contest as time continued to burn, but appeared to have taken it a tad easier in the scoring department. The home side seemed content to hold onto the ball while letting the clock drain.
Searching for a goal, the Huskies emptied the tank in the final minutes, keeping the ball in the final third and generating some chances. But like it had all game long, the Warsaw defense denied the visitors anything, keeping St. Joe scoreless to give Bailey a shut out for the second straight game.
Warsaw (2-0-1) plays its next game Tuesday at home against Huntington North.