SYRACUSE — The Warsaw boys soccer team inched closer to its second-straight Northern Lakes Conference championship Saturday in Syracuse Posting a 10-0 victory on a rain-soaked day at Wawasee, the Class 2A No. 7 Warsaw Tigers improved their season record to 12-3-1 and their NLC mark to 6-0, guaranteeing themselves at least a share of the 2011 conference title. However, Warsaw coach Scott Bauer isn't in the sharing mood. "We don't want to share it," Bauer said. "We want to go up to Northridge (Thursday) and close this NLC campaign out." Following Saturday's action, Warsaw sits atop the NLC standings, while Concord and Northridge have 5-1 and 4-1 marks, respectively. In their sixth conference game of the season, the Tigers found themselves not only playing on a water-soaked field, but also trying to be sportsmans against a winless Warriors team. The loss leaves Wawasee at 0-13-1 on the year, and through 14 games, the Warriors have generated just five goals. With Warsaw doubling the amount of goals Wawasee has scored all season, Bauer actually played the final six minutes of Saturday's game with eight players against Wawasee's 10. "You don't want to appear that you're rubbing it in, but at the same time, you can't call off some kids that are out there that aren't usually out there," Bauer said. "They want to score. I took out seven or eight of my more quality players. You just want to try to stay classy. I hope we did that." And despite the lop-sided game, which saw Warsaw outshoot Wawasee 24-2, with none of the Warriors' shots being on goal, Bauer was impressed with the opposing coaching staff. "I am just so impressed with the Wawasee coaching staff, with, from over here, how positive they were staying with their kids and how much they were still trying to motivate their kids," he said. "Under these circumstances, that is to be commended." And when you're still in search of your first win, staying positive can be difficult, but first-year Warriors coach Thomas Taylor is doing it. "It's the small, incremental things that we're always working on," Taylor said. "We know Warsaw's good. They're a strong team and always have been. What we wanted to focus on, regardless of what the score may be, was a lot more quick passing, one-touches and more of controlling the ball at a slower pace. Too many times, we'd catch ourselves behind, but we'd want to push ahead quickly and go for a goal. I think we need to go a different route, and do the opposite of what we're thinking." Struggling to keep up with the Tigers, Warsaw senior Xavier Arellanes netted goals in the 4th and 10th minutes. From there, the assault just continued as senior Corey Lopez increased his school-record to 65 career goals with two against the Warriors, while sophomore Zack Tucker, senior José Rodriguez, senior Lake Price, senior Brant Davis, junior Nate Kolbe and sophomore Gustavo Rodriguez also got into the scoring action. One person that didn't get into the scoring was junior Diego Lopez, who was in street clothes awaiting surgery on his knee. Diego Lopez is one of the Tigers' best weapons, but suffered a knee injury earlier this month, but attempted to play through it after getting an MRI done. However, after hobbling through four games, he's decided to have surgery, ending his season. "He tried to go on a third-grade cartilage tear, and it was just too frustrating for him, because he couldn't do what Diego can do," Bauer said. "It's a critical loss. When Diego's healthy, he brings a lot to the table. We'll just need to rally around the situation, and other guys are going to need to step up." The rest of the Tigers will look to wrap up sole possession of the NLC Thursday at Northridge, while Wawasee travels to Northridge Tuesday night.
WARSAW 10, WAWASEE 0 War — Xavier Arellanes 4th min. War — Arellanes (José Rodriguez) 10th min. War — Zack Tucker (Nate Kolbe) 16th min. War — Corey Lopez 26th min. War — Rodriguez 43rd min. War — Lopez (Arellanes) 48th min. War — Lake Price (free kick) 59th min. War — Brant Davis 60th min. War — Kolbe (Andros Gonzales) 68th min. War — Gustavo Rodriguez (Ethan Goodman) 74th min. Shots — Warsaw 24, Wawasee 2; Shots on Goal — Warsaw 17, Wawasee 0; Saves — Warsaw (David Johnson/Michael Yantz) 0, Wawasee (Andre Champeux 8/Tyler Morgan) 8; Fouls — Warsaw 14, Wawasee 3; Offsides — Warsaw 2, Wawasee 1; Corner Kicks — Warsaw 8, Wawasee 0; Records — Warsaw 12-3-1 (6-0 NLC), Wawasee 0-11-1 (0-5 NLC) JV — Warsaw 7, Wawasee 0 Warsaw JV Stats: Goals — Yantz 2, T.J. Hofer 2, Luis Duenas, Tanner Blum, Juan Sanchez; Assists — Hofer, Caleb Klusman, Duenas, Ernesto Cuellar; Record — 13-1-1 (5-1 NLC)
