Tiger Soccer Players Stay Stingy

In the five games the Warsaw varsity and junior varsity boys soccer teams have played - three JV and two varsity - the Tigers have allowed the opposition just two goals.

Tuesday night at the CCAC, the varsity Tigers improved their record to 2-0 with a 2-0 win over South Bend Riley, their second shutout of the season. Riley fell to 0-3-1 with the loss.

The Warsaw JV team, now 3-0, dominated Riley 9-0 with five of those goals coming in the second half.

Junior Ben Minick gave the varsity Tigers their first score of the contest with 12:55 remaining in the first half on an assist from senior Matt LaFountain. Warsaw's other goal was scored unassisted with 18:35 left in the contest by sophomore Adam Sisson.

Though his team's defense hasn't allowed a goal in the first two games of the season, Warsaw varsity coach Scott Bauer said he saw some cracks.

"We probably didn't play as well defensively as we could have," said Bauer. "We gave them too many opportunities, and we didn't shut down the space at midfield."

In all reality it looked as if the Wildcats gave the Tigers too many opportunities. While Riley only had seven shots on goal, Warsaw took aim at the nets 19 times. And the score easily could've been 4-0 rather than just a two-goal deficit.

With 10 minutes left before the half, Tiger senior Gabe Koser had an open shot on the goal but inadvertently kicked it into the hands of Riley's goalie. Later in the first half, Warsaw was at point-blank range and sent the ball sailing over the goal.

Bauer didn't seem to want to talk about the shutout after the game but rather the fact that Warsaw still has some things to work on before Thursday's game with Northern Lakes Conference rival Concord.

"Despite winning 2-0, there's a lot of room for improvement," said Bauer. "Offensively we got the ball wide quicker. And at the times we got the ball wide quickly, we created some dangerous opportunities."

Warsaw will travel to Concord Thursday for a 5 p.m. start. After Tuesday's contest, Bauer said Concord was the best team in the NLC and that he believes Warsaw never has won the conference in boys soccer.

WARSAW 2

SOUTH BEND RILEY 0

Shots on goal - Warsaw 19, Riley 7

Saves - Warsaw 6, Riley 4

Warsaw goals - Ben Minick (assisted by Matt LaFountain); Adam Sisson

Records - Warsaw 2-0; Riley 0-3-1

JV - WARSAW 9

SOUTH BEND RILEY 0

Warsaw goals - Trevor Shafer 2, Jeremy Shroeder, Ryan Burgher, Kirk Burnett, Nick Bruick, Joel Popenfoose, Aaron Wishart, Kiel Beehler

Warsaw JV record - 3-0