GOSHEN – Known for its stingy defense, Northridge High School’s girls soccer team got an equally impressive offensive performance from senior Brianne O’Dell Wednesday night. In a regional semifinal match against the Warsaw Lady Tigers at Goshen High School, O’Dell scored three goals and led the Class 2A No. 14 Lady Raiders to a 5-0 win. Northridge, now 16-1-2 on the season and owners of a 16-match win streak, will play Penn in Saturday night’s regional final. Penn improved to 15-4-1 with a 2-1 win over South Bend St. Joe, last year’s state runner-up, in Wednesday’s first semifinal. “Brianne has scored double-digit goals every year, and that puts her at 16 this year,” said Northridge coach Bill Redinger. “When she gets the chance, she finishes. We put the first one on a tee for her. That third one, that what’s what Brianne does.” O’Dell scored the game’s first goal in the 31st minute, as Northridge led 1-0 at halftime. She added goals in the 46th and 70th minutes, while senior Christina Juroff scored in the 68th minute and freshman Brey Baltazar netted a goal in the 75th minute. Redinger said O’Dell’s second goal, which gave the Lady Raiders a 2-0 lead early in the second half, set the tone. “The second goal, that’s what set the tone for us,” said Redinger. “The second goal is a big deal in a game like this. A quick goal out of the half like that is deflating.” While the Lady Raiders are in search of their first regional title in program history, Warsaw saw its season end with an 11-4-2 record and a second loss to Northridge. Northridge beat the Lady Tigers 3-0 in the regular-season finale. “Let’s just tell it like it is, Northridge is a phenominal team, and they deserved to win tonight,” said first-year Warsaw coach Peter Lucht. “I wish them all the best in the tournament. I hope they go far and represent the NLC well.” In holding Warsaw scoreless Wednesday, the Lady Raiders have now shut out 15 of their last 16 opponents. “Our defense has been together for three years, so this has been a long time coming,” said Redinger. “It’s been a lot of hard work. The kids realize the offense gets a lot of the credit, but they aren’t afraid to mix it up (on defense), too.” While the 5-0 loss stings, as any season-ending loss does, Lucht is proud of what his team accomplished and is excited about the future. “We have a good, strong team,” said Lucht, whose team extended the program’s sectional title streak to four years. “I’m excited about some of the players that will be coming up in the next few years. I think we’ll abe able to accomplish some good things.” Of the 11 players in Warsaw’s starting lineup Wednesday, only two were seniors – keeper Abby Schue and defender Zoe Smyth. Lucht will also lose defenders Vanessa Malagon and Sandra Granda to graduation.
NORTHRIDGE 5, WARSAW 0 N – Brianne O’Dell (Lauren Blyly assist) 31st min N – O’Dell (Ellie Lengacher) 46th min N – Christina Juroff (unassisted) 68th min N – O’Dell (unassisted) 70th min N – Brey Baltazar (Jaymee Bowers) 75th min Shots – Northridge 13, Warsaw 4; Saves – Julina Skow (NR) 4, Abby Schue (War) 7; Corners – Northridge 4, Warsaw 0 Records: Northridge 16-1-2, Warsaw 11-4-2
