WINONA LAKE - Their school mascots might suggest differently, but Saturday's varsity boys soccer game between the Warsaw Tigers and Lakeland Christian Academy Cougars was anything but a catfight.
The 15th-ranked Tigers dominated the game from the get-go, scored five goals in the second half and left Winona Lake with a 7-0 win."We had three good days of practicing leading up to this game," said Warsaw coach Scott Bauer. "We've had some injuries and things, and this was as complete a side as we've had this year. We showed what we're capable of doing."
Warsaw outshot the host Cougars 25-3.
"Their attack is never the same," said LCA coach Joel Popenfoose, who played for Bauer and who graduated from WCHS in 2003. "They're constantly changing things. They're a very good team. Coach Bauer said things were starting to come together. They should do well in the state tournament."
Warsaw improved to 9-2-1 on the season, while LCA fell to 5-6-1.
Corey Lopez scored the game's first goal in the seventh minute on an assist from Brody Reinholt, and then added a second goal 11 minutes later on an assist from Joey Hickerson.
Lopez was the only Warsaw player to score multiple goals, as the Tigers got second-half goals from Jose´ Rodridguez, Reinholt, Brant Davis, Xavier Arellanes and Diego Lopez.
Arellanes, Andros Gonzales, Jared Stout and the Lopez brothers each had an assist in the second half.
"Our ball movement was good today," said Bauer. "We did a good job of creating space. Our flank play was as good as it's been."
The Tigers will be in action again Tuesday when they travel to Fort Wayne to play 17th-ranked Canterbury, while LCA plays today at Argos.
