Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
COLUMBIA CITY - Four years ago, Warsaw did not have a girls soccer program.
But here the Tigers were on Saturday, going neck and neck with No. 7 Homestead in the Columbia City Sectional championship.
They played a scoreless first half, but a goal by Jessica Aycock with 37:04 left was all the Spartans needed. Homestead, 15-2-1, beat Warsaw 1-0.
The Tigers ended their season with a 13-3-3 record.
"We beat some big teams this year," Warsaw coach Brent Wildman said. "We beat them because they were asleep and didn't expect much out of us. We have athletes. But to turn them into skilled, experienced soccer players in three years is not completely possible.
"We play from desire and determination, from momentum. We play to our athletes. We play the hand dealt us. Our success this year can be attributed to the athleticism of our girls, even though we have not developed that much skill."
Homestead outshot Warsaw 18-7.
Wildman told his players before the game they would get three to five shots to convert a goal. Afterward, he remembered the one that slipped away.
"The one opportunity we had, we had two people go for the ball," he said. "That was our shot, right there. We had two people who wanted it, and neither pulled off. It was unfortunate, because it was right at the top of the box."
HOMESTEAD 1, WARSAW 0
Second-half goals:
H - Jessica Aycock goal, 1-0 Homestead, 37:04
Shots on goal: Homestead 18, Warsaw 7
Goalkeeper saves: Jennifer Baker (Homestead) 3, Sarah Barber (Warsaw) 8
