SYRACUSE – For the first 65 minutes of the match, Lakeland seemed content to play defense and look for a break. But it was Wawasee that finally broke through, scoring three times in eight minutes for a 3-0 boys soccer sectional win at Warrior Field Monday night.
In the 65th minute, Warrior junior Eric Yankosky scored on a free kick from around 35 yards out. The high-arcing kick took a tall bounce in the box before falling between the crossbar and Laker goalkeeper Dakota Miller’s hands.
Three minutes later, Wawasee sophomore Chris Pena was knocked off his feet in the box. He converted the penalty kick for a 2-0 lead.
The Warriors took the pressure up a notch. Ryan Edington was upended trying to score on a header off a centering pass. His penalty kick in the 73rd minute extended Wawasee’s lead to three.
Wawasee was able to control the ball throughout most of the match, while Lakeland was playing defense with the intensity one might expect in the postseason. The Warriors had three shots that missed narrowly; one bounced off the left post, and two others rolled within a foot of a goal support.
“It was nice to see out guys controlling the game, manipulating the ball and working the ball around the back. It was exciting to see them play that way,” Wawasee coach Jordan Sharp said.
“I told them at halftime ‘stay patient, and goals will come.’ But then we get a couple of minutes into the second half, then 10, then 15 and I’m starting to get a little anxious.
“But our guys were persistent, they kept doing the right things, and they were rewarded.”
Sharp said while he’s glad his team converted the free kick and two penalty kicks, he hoped his squad could have done more.
“I was a little disappointed we weren’t able to score a goal in open field play where we’re knocking the ball around and find the net,” he said. “I think we would have put those two PKs away on the build up.”
Wawasee improved to 6-7-3 overall and moved on to play fellow Northern Lakes Conference member NorthWood in the semifinals.
The Panthers earned a 4-3 win over No. 19 West Noble in Monday’s first game. NorthWood had a 5-3 home win over the Warriors on Sept. 7.
“We’ve definitely got some things to work on before Wednesday, like finishing in the final third and getting our forwards to work together and those types of things, but overall I’m really proud of the guys.”
Wawasee and NorthWood will kick off at 5 p.m. Wednesday, followed by the second semifinal match between Angola and Garrett. The championship match is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.
