PLYMOUTH – All good things, as the old saying suggests, must come to an end. Such was the case Wednesday evening for Warsaw’s varsity boys soccer team. Playing the host Rockies in the second semifinal of the Class 2A Plymouth Sectional at Kindt Field, the Tigers fell 2-1. With the loss, Warsaw ended its season with a 7-6-5 record and saw its streak of six straight sectional titles and six consecutive regional championships come to a screeching halt. It was also the first time the Tigers lost to their U.S. 30 rival since 2007. “I told the guys they didn’t want to be the team that lost to Plymouth,” said interim Warsaw coach Frank Courtois. “And the last thing I told them was we don’t want to give up an early goal, and that’s what happened.” Cesar Aguilar gave the Rockies a 1-0 advantage just two minutes into the game, and Warsaw had to play from behind. Sam Allbritten scored the equalizer for the Tigers in the 28th minute, but Clay Marshall scored the game-winner for Plymouth in the 37th minute. “I don’t think we took Plymouth seriously,” said Courtois. “And I’m not making excuses, but we have a lot of guys injured.” The Tigers and Rockies played to a 3-3 draw during a regular season match in Plymouth on Aug. 28. With the win, which the Rockies celebrated as if it were a state championship, Plymouth advanced to Saturday’s 6 p.m. final against NorthWood. NorthWood opened semifinal action Wednesday with a 5-1 win over the Wawasee Warriors. Aaron Chenoweth gave the Panthers an early advantage, scoring a goal in the fourth minute. Three minutes later, Derek Parker’s goal push NorthWood’s lead to 2-0. Brock O’Haver scored off an assist from Kyle Weideman in the ninth minute for the Warriors, who finished the season with a 4-8-5 record, but Eli Aukerman’s goal in the 25th minute gave the Panthers a 3-1 advantage at halftime. Brayton Taylor (69th minute) and Antonio Lopez (75th minute) scored second-half goals for NorthWood to account for the final score. Plymouth has won one sectional championship in program history, that coming in 2007, while NorthWood is searching for its fifth after winning titles in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010. Saturday’s champion will face the winner of the Northridge Sectional – either Elkhart Central or Goshen – at 5 p.m. in Thursday’s Mishawaka Regional semifinal round.
PLYMOUTH 2, WARSAW 1 (2A Plymouth Sectional, semifinal) P – Cesar Aguilar 2nd min W – Sam Allbritten 28th min P – Clay Marshall 37th min Record: Warsaw 7-6-5
NORTHWOOD 5, WAWASEE 1 NW – Aaron Chenoweth 4th min NW – Derek Parker 7th min W – Brock O’Haver (Kyle Weideman assist) 9th min NW – Eli Aukerman 25th min NW – Brayton Taylor 69th min Antonio Lopez 75th min Record: Wawasee 4-8-5
Championship: 6 p.m. Saturday, Plymouth vs NorthWood
