FORT WAYNE - Warsaw boys soccer coach Scott Bauer described Fort Wayne Canterbury's program as one that is top notch and recognized statewide.
With a 2-0 win over the 12th-ranked Cavaliers Tuesday night in Fort Wayne, the 13th-ranked Tigers continue to prove they're a program to be reckoned with."This is probably the highest matchup we've had at Warsaw, they're ranked 12th and we're 13th," said Bauer. "This is a special win. I'm not sure we've been (ranked) as high as 13 before, and to beat a 12th-ranked team of Canterbury's caliber is quite an accomplishment.
"Canterbury is a top-notch program," Bauer added. "They get recognition statewide. I hope this puts us a little more on the map, that we're doing things with our program too."
The Tigers, who have advanced to the semistate championship game the past two seasons, improved to 10-2-1 on the season, while Canterbury fell to 9-3-1.
While junior standout Corey Lopez was absent from Tuesday's game - Bauer said he had other obligations - sophomore Diego Lopez certainly made his presence felt.
Lopez scored both goals for the Tigers, putting the ball past Canterbury sophomore goalkeeper Jasmin Habicic once during each half.
"Diego was wonderful up top," said Bauer.
Lopez scored the game's first goal in the 21st minute on an assist from sophomore Nathan Kolbe, and then added an insurance goal with just under 15 minutes remaining in the game when he took a pass from junior Xavier Arellanes and juked his way past two Cavaliers.
"He's a load," Canterbury coach Greg Mauch said of Lopez. "Warsaw owned us tonight. They were clearly the better team tonight. We had about 10 good minutes, Warsaw had 70."
The Tigers took nine shots in the win, while the Cavaliers took seven shots.
Warsaw junior goalkeeper David Johnson played all 80 minutes and made five saves, while Habicic also made five saves in 80 minutes of action.
The Tigers will be in action Thursday when they put their 4-0 Northern Lakes Conference recond on the line at Goshen.
