INDIANAPOLIS - By extending its streak of state tournament wins over ranked teams, sixth-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral ended No. 7 Warsaw's streak of shutouts, as well as the Tigers' season.
The Fighting Irish beat Warsaw 2-0 Saturday in the semfinal round of the boys soccer state tournament at Kuntz Memorial Stadium in Indianapolis.For Cathedral, it was the fifth straight tournament win over a ranked team, having already defeated No. 9 Noblesville, No. 2 Carmel, No. 4 Avon and No. 12 Pike.
Max Odgaard's penalty kick goal in the 15th minute marked the first goal against the Tigers in 12-1/2 games.
Prior to Odgaar's goal, Warsaw hadn't surrendered a goal since the first half of its 3-1 win over NorthWood on Sept. 14.
"We end up with a PK goal in a scrum pile, and it didn't look like a very clean takedown from my end, but I trust the official saw it," said Warsaw coach Scott Bauer, whose team finished the season with a record of 20-3-1.
As if the controversial penalty didn't hurt the Tigers' chances, Cathedral's goal in the 52nd minute of play was ruled an own goal. Brooks Butler was credited with the goal, after his shot deflected off a Warsaw player and past goalkeeper David Johnson.
Odgaard was credited with the assist on the second goal.
With the 2-0 win, the Fighting Irish improved to 20-3-1 and advanced to the state championship game against 10th-ranked Lake Central, a 3-1 semifinal round winner over No. 8 Evansville Memorial.
Lake Central went on to beat Cathedral 2-0 in the title tilt.
The Tigers entered Saturday's game on a 13-game win streak and had only given up eight goals all season.
Warsaw had to play without one of its defenders, as junior Lake Price sat out after getting a second yellow card in last week's semistate.
"We played well despite being short-handed and having some kids play out of position," said Bauer. "We felt a bit awkward during this match. We were piecing it together back there."
"You have to get lucky to get by at this level, and by lucky I mean you have to have a full side," continued Bauer, who started freshman Matt Williams in Price's absence. "Most high school teams don't have the depth to take an injury or a yellow-card loss."
Though the scoreboard showed a 2-0 loss, Warsaw was very much in the game.
The Tigers outshot Cathedral 13-10.
Warsaw had a number of opportunities to score in the first half, but just couldn't capitalize.
"I thought we had some quality opportunities, especially in the first half," said Bauer. "But we didn't convert. It wasn't for a lack of effort, and their goalkeeper came up big."
Cathedral's Alex Dickman was credited with six saves in the win, while Johnson made three saves for the Tigers.
While Bauer credited Dickman for coming up with big saves, the 12th-year Warsaw coach was disappointed in Cathedral's cheering section.
Cathedral's fans taunted Warsaw assistant coach Frank Curtois, who was wearing a Chicago Bears stocking hat, by calling him Lovie Smith.
Bauer also noted Warsaw's Hispanic players were taunted during the game.
"We haven't found too many crowds where they call my assistant coach Lovie Smith and mispronounce the Hispanic kids' names," said Bauer. "I'm proud of my kids, and upset that they had to put up with that. It was classless by their fans."
Warsaw senior Scott Smyth was given the Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Award following Saturday night's championship game.
