Warsaw Community High School boys soccer coach Scott Bauer said he thought his team was outplayed Thursday night by 15th-ranked Northridge.
The Tigers were better on the scoreboard, however, as ninth-ranked Warsaw beat the visiting Raiders 1-0 on a windy, chilly evening to win the Northern Lakes Conference championship."I thought Northridge outplayed us," said Bauer. "We had to make some adjustments to our shape and formation in the first 10 minutes. We did that and they (Northridge) were less dangerous."
The Raiders took 12 shots on goal to the Tigers' six, but it was speedy sophomore Diego Lopez of Warsaw who put the only goal in the net when he put a dazzling move on a couple defenders and scored in the 53rd minute.
"We've got quality out there in our attacking positions," said Bauer. "Not just Diego, Corey (Lopez) and Jose (Rodriguez). We've got plenty of quality on our side that we can put out there."
With the win, ninth-ranked Warsaw improved to 13-2-1 overall and 6-0 in the NLC, while No. 15 Northridge fell to 11-4-1 overall and 5-1-1 in conference play.
The Tigers will round out their regular season and NLC schedule Saturday when they host Wawasee at 2 p.m. Saturday.
"I'm excited for my guys," Bauer said of winning the conference championship. "They've worked hard all year. When teams have had us on our back feet, we've found a way to win."
The Tigers also won NLC titles in 2004 and 2006.
In 12 seasons under Bauer, Warsaw sports a record of 155-49-34.
While other players have garnered headlines for scoring goals this season, Warsaw goalkeeper David Johnson has been superb in the net.
Since a 3-2 loss to Carroll on Sept. 11, Johnson has given up one goal in six matches.
In that span, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 17-1, including a 2-0 win at Fort Wayne Canterbury, which was ranked 12th in the state at the time, and the 1-0 win over Northridge.
"He's been exceptional between the frames," Bauer said of Johnson, who made eight saves against Northridge. "His communication and his organization of the defense has been crititcal for us to close out matches. In my mind, he was one of the co-MVPs of the match against Northridge."
After Saturday's match against rival Wawasee, the Tigers will be in action Thursday at 5 p.m. against the host Dragons in the Argos Sectional.
WARSAW 1, NORTHRIDGE 0
Scoring
W - Diego Lopez (unassisted) 53rd minute
Shots on goal - Warsaw 6, Northridge 12
Saves - David Johnson (War) 8, Derrick Giddens (NR) 4
