Warsaw Defense Stopping Opponents

Before Warsaw's boys' soccer game began Thursday evening, the public address announcer told the crowd that the Tigers have outscored their opponents by a 3-1 margin this season and added that their "defense has been a wall."

That trend continued in Warsaw's final home game yesterday.

The Tigers upped their record to 4-1 in the Northern Lakes Conference with a 5-1 win over Northridge.

Warsaw, at one time 3-3-1, is 9-3-2. The Tigers have either tied or won their last seven games.

The offense that has scored 26 goals in the last seven games showed why it has been successful, systematically picking apart a Northridge defense. Warsaw had 20 shots on goal; Northridge had four.

Jon Earhart had two goals for Warsaw.

Phil Hood opened with a goal that followed a Nate Krogel corner kick, giving Warsaw the 1-0 lead. Northridge then added its only goal on a Steve Schmidt kick to tie the game at 1-1.

Wallen gave Warsaw the lead for good when he added another goal before halftime.

The Tigers added three goals in the second half, two in the final five minutes that sapped the last bit of energy left in the Northfield players.

Earhart scored Warsaw's third goal on a centering pass and assist by Hood, then added Warsaw's fourth goal with less than five minutes to go. Dan Ropte had the assist.

Wallen scored Warsaw's last goal on a centering pass and assist from Robert Lee.

Warsaw coach Corey Rose sensed early that his Tigers, brimming with confidence right now, crushed Nothridge's spirit.

"The main difference was intensity, who wanted it," he said. "They had some good players ... but we wanted it. My guys have played together a long time. we have six seniors, so this was their last home game."

Rose said this aggressive attitude was something that wasn't always present on his team before.

"We had some attitude problems last year," he said. "A year of maturity has set in. It's just a confidence factor. Believing in you teammates. We don't have a superstar. This is a team. When someone looks at us, who do you stop? You can't concentrate on one person."

And once again, Warsaw's defense provided the "wall" it has all season. While Warsaw has scored 26 goals the last seven games, the Tiger defense has allowed only four.

"Everybody wants to win," Rose said. "My keeper (Matt Brown) has kept us in a lot of games."

Northridge fell to 4-5-1 overall and 1-3-1 in the NLC.

Warsaw's next game is at Plymouth on Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. If Warsaw wins that game, the Tigers at least tie for the conference championship with Plymouth and possibly Concord.

Warsaw is playing well when it counts, heading into the sectional. The Tigers face Huntington North after Plymouth, then head into the sectional.

"I feel confident going into sectional," Rose said. "But we have two more regular season games we have to look at first."