PLYMOUTH – Wawasee’s boys soccer team got off to arguably the worst possible start Saturday night in the 2A Plymouth Sectional championship game against the host Pilgrims. The Warriors followed it with what head coach Jordan Sharp called their best soccer of the season. But the start was too much to overcome, and Plymouth claimed a 3-2 win and the sectional title. As in most title matches, the teams played at a high intensity level from the opening kickoff. Jesus Jimenez of Plymouth scored the first of the Pilgrims’ three first-half goals seven minutes into the match. On Wawasee’s ensuing trip up the field, words and fists were exchanged on the northwest corner of the field. Cooler heads prevailed, on the pitch and in the stands, and the head referee talked to both benches before play resumed. “We got scored on, then our guys started getting crazy, getting yellow cards, getting fouls, and getting out of their heads; not thinking clearly,” Sharp said. The Plymouth lead expanded to three by halftime, on a well-placed free kick from Doug Overmyer in the 18th minute, and a Jorge Calix goal off a feed from Jesus Rebollo in the 30th min. After intermission, Wawasee played much better, getting shots but not converting early. The Warriors got on the board when Carter Jones hit a penalty kick in the 52nd minute. “At halftime we chatted about the importance of staying together, united as a team, staying focused, and not doing dumb things. playing team defense and working as a team, rather than individuals,” Sharp said. “In the first half we had a lot of individual things, little attitudes and things going on. In the second half, guys cleaned that up, and we played as a unit, as a team like we should be doing all the time, and that was the difference in the second half.” Jones found Chris Pena breaking free down the west side of the field, and the speedy freshman outran his defender and faked out Plymouth goalkeeper Colin Harding to cut the deficit to one with 14 minutes to go. The duo also provided Wawasee with its best chance to tie the match with six minutes left. Jones passed from the left side of the goal to a breaking Pena. The freshman’s header was solid, but right at Harding’s chest. Wawasee had several other shots, but none as close as that one. After the game, Sharp said he had praise for his team in getting to the sectional final, recovering from its bad start, and playing well enough to win in the final 40 minutes. “I told them Wawasee hadn’t won a sectional game in something like six years, let alone competed in the final, and we almost tied it up,” said Sharp. “I told them I was so proud of them and how the guys raised the bar for future generations of soccer players that come through, and being a great example, and setting the tone. “I also told them that the second half was the best soccer I’d seen them play this season and they left it all out on the field.” Wawasee’s season ended with a 5-11-2 record. Plymouth (14-3) moves on to take on Penn at the South Bend Adams Regional on Thursday.
PLYMOUTH SECTIONAL (Finals) PLYMOUTH 3, WAWASEE 2 (Scoring) P – Jesus Jimenez (unassisted) 7th min. P – Doug Overmeyer (free kick) 18th min. P – Jorge Calix (Jesus Rebollo assist) 30th min. W – Carter Jones (penalty kick) 52nd min. W – Chris Pena (Jones assist) 74th min. Records: Wawasee 5-11-2, Plymouth 14-3
