When trying to score against a big, tall goalie, Warsaw boys soccer coach Scott Bauer said keeping the ball low is the way to go.
That's exactly what Warsaw junior Corey Lopez did Tuesday evening, as the host Tigers beat the Fort Wayne Concordia Cadets 1-0 in the season opener for both teams."After having a number of opportunities, we finally got one in," Bauer said of Lopez' goal, which came in the 77th minute of the 80-minute match. "Their goalie was huge for them, he kept coming up with huge saves. When you're facing a big guy in goal like that, you have to beat him with the low ball, and that's what Corey did."
The 20th-ranked Tigers, who have advanced to the semistate championship match the past two seasons, were close to scoring a number of times against Concordia goalie Kasey Oetting.
Time after time, however, Oetting came up with save after save, and the Cadets were able to stay in the match.
"I was pleased with the way we possessed the ball, especially in the second half," Bauer said when asked if he was pleased the way his team played, considering it was the first match of the season. "(Concordia) surprised us with their speed. Last year we were able to go through them much easier."
Though they only scored one goal, the Tigers dominated play in terms of shots.
Warsaw had 15 shots - five by sophomore Diego Lopez, four each by juniors Jose Rodgriguez and Corey Lopez, and two by junior Xavier Arellanes.
Arellanes was credited with the assist on the game-winning goal.
Oetting made 14 saves in goal for the Cadets, while Warsaw's David Johnson made two saves, as Concordia managed just two shots.
"We had a few things to talk about defensively, some things we need to work on," said Bauer. "But I was pleased with our attacking and our ability to keep the tempo up. We've got a good side, I think we're better than last year - it comes down to whether or not we keep putting things together and become a team and feel like a team. We're getting there, but we've got a little ways to go."
Warsaw is in action again Friday against Fort Wayne Northrop. The match will be played at IPFW's Hefner Field at 6:45 p.m.
