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With a sectional championship on the line, the Warsaw girls soccer team took the field Saturday afternoon looking to continue its season by avenging an early season loss to unbeaten Homestead. It wasn’t in the cards for the Lady Tigers on this day, as their opponent scored the first goal early and never let up, going on to end the orange and black’s season with a 5-2 win.
Despite Warsaw being the aggressors through the first few minutes of the match, it ended up being Homestead that put in the early goal. The Lady Spartans weathered the early storm and then got right to work themselves, reversing the pressure by holding long possessions in Lady Tiger end of the field. Eventually, Channing Xayarath was able to find some space about 20 yards away from the net, enough to let a shot go. Warsaw keeper Avery Forrester got a hand on it, but not enough, as the ball made it past her to make it 1-0 nine minutes in.
Just five minutes passed before the Lady Spartans stuck again. This time it was Audrey Johnson putting in a lob shot that went over Forrester’s head off of a very nice feed from her teammate. Already trailing 2-0 just 154 minutes in against an undefeated team, the Lady Tigers needed to find an answer in a hurry.
Just two minutes later, they got one. Playing with a bit more urgency, Warsaw got back on the offensive and began to test the Homestead defense for the first time. For the most part, the Lady Spartans were able to hold the line, but that was until one attacking chance by Amy Escutia. She found some space at a tough angle, as she was almost even with the goal and the end line. She shot it anyway, and got a friendly deflect off a defender and the ball careened into the net to cut the lead in half.
The visitors on the scoreboard got another momentum play a few minutes later, as Homestead was awarded a penalty shot for a foul in the box. However, it was Forrester who was hugged by her teammates after the shot, as she came up with a save on Braylee Morris to keep the score where it was.
Everyone got a chance to catch their breath after that exciting stretch of action, as the next few minutes went by with relatively little drama. Both sides took turns going on the offensive before the defenses came in to thwart them, but for the most part, it was still Homestead that was putting together the better chances. The home side’s tenacity would eventually be rewarded, as Morris was able to get the best of Forrester in their second meeting, this time on the open field. The senior’s first shot was saved, but she stayed with it and got a second shot to go to make it a two-goal game once more with eleven minutes until halftime.
Trailing by a pair yet again, this time, the Warsaw offense was unable to return the favor and get back on the offensive. Instead, the Lady Spartans continued to chase another goal. They didn’t get one, but came close on multiple opportunities. It was clear that the game was getting away from the Lady Tigers, and they needed to start the second half by getting back on track.
Calla Wilkins (L) of Homestead and Warsaw sophomore Gracie Boron square off during the first half of Saturday's sectional chempionship match...Nieter
Instead, it was Homestead that added on to their lead five minutes after play resumed. It was another long spell of possession for Homestead that turned into three shots on goal. The first was saved by Forrester. The rebound went off the cross bar, and the third was the result of the second bouncing perfectly to Xayarath, who sent a rocket into the back of the net for her second goal to make it 4-1.
The next 15 minutes went by without a goal, and without much of a change in the gameplay either. Opportunities for Warsaw were still few and far between, but the Lady Tiger defense was still doing its best in defending against a relentless Lady Spartan attack. Around the midway point of the second half, Forrester reached the double digit mark for saves.
The first of the final two goals of the game came with just three minutes remaining, putting a stamp on what was an all-around impressive victory for Homestead. Putting it in was sophomore Jillian Eddy, who was one of many players that took to the pitch from the home bench over the final 10 minutes. Then, with just 15 seconds left on the clock, Lylah Williman netted one from about 15 yards out to give the game its final score.
The Lady Tigers will return next season.
