The 16th-ranked Warsaw Community High School boys soccer team turned a blowout into a close match Saturday against the 13th-ranked Carroll Chargers.
Hosting the Chargers (9-1-1) on a rainy afternoon, the Tigers (8-2) allowed Carroll junior Colson Wagoner to net three goals, as the Chargers won 3-2."Maybe he'll get a hat trick again, but I think it was just his moment," Warsaw coach Scott Bauer said of Wagoner.
Wagoner's first goal came at the 24:50 mark in the first half when he put some precision on a ball from the left side and put it in the upper right corner from just inside the 18.
"He had a once-in-a-lifetime shot with no angle on my keeper in that first goal," Bauer said.
Later in the second half, Wagoner scored on a header off a miss from senior teammate Jason Walcutt. After Warsaw's junior goalkeeper, David Johnson, knocked down Walcutt's miss, Wagoner was right there to put it in the net.
"He was Johnny on the Spot," Bauer said.
Wagoner's, and Carroll's, scoring came to a close when he scored off a cross from senior Nathan Byrd in the 55th minute, making most think the result of the match was a foregone conclusion.
Instead, Warsaw fought back, starting with a penalty kick score by junior José Rodriguez with only 15:26 remaining in the match.
"Hats off to my guys for responding appropriately after being down 3-0," Bauer said. "They didn't start turning in on themselves. They started being constructive, positive and kept that up. I like that kind of leadership coming from the team."
Eight minutes later, senior Joey Hickerson had the ball roll to him off a miss and fired it past Carroll's sophomore keeper Cody Schweitzer from outside the 18, drawing to within 3-2.
The score made the match a bit tighter, but Carroll tightened up in the final eight minutes, holding on for the victory.
"We never thought Warsaw would quit," 23rd-year Carroll coach Rollie Clements said. "They just never do. Credit to them, because they didn't. But, also, credit to our guys a little bit. After we got it to 3-2, we settled down and took care of business."
Facing a top 13 program, Bauer knew small mistakes by his guys could turn into big opportunities for Carroll.
"Carroll's a very talented side," he said. "They play well as a team and do a lot of the small things, so they took care of the opportunities they had. I didn't think they had too many opportunities, but the ones they did, they capitalized on."
Warsaw played in the Carroll Tournament a week earlier, but didn't play Carroll. Instead, the Tigers did get a chance to play No. 12 Homestead, falling 1-0.
By playing the best teams in northern Indiana, Bauer is aware there may be some losses along the way, but the experience will be beneficial down the line.
"We set our schedule up to play quality schools in Fort Wayne," he said. "We felt like that was the area where our kids were playing club ball. We try to play ranked teams and I think that helps us as the season progresses. That hardens us up and we understand we can play with anyone in the northern part of the state."
The only other ranked teams in northern Indiana are No. 7 Valparaiso and No. 17 Northridge, a Northern Lakes Conference squad Warsaw hosts Sept. 30.
Warsaw travels to NorthWood for an NLC match Tuesday.
