Warsaw Kickers Open NLC Play With Loss To Plymouth
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Dale Hubler-dhubler@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw boys soccer coach Frank Courtois felt like his team got off to another slow start Thursday evening. This time, however, it caught up with the Tigers.
After outscoring their first four opponents 20-0, with most of those goals coming later in the game, the Tigers gave up a goal to Northern Lakes Conference rival Plymouth in the fourth minute.
The Rockies pushed their advantage to 2-0 early in the second half and scored again as time expired to win 3-1 in the conference opener for both teams.
Plymouth improved to 3-0 overall, while Warsaw fell to 3-1-1.
“The first goal, like I’ve said, we’ve started off slow,” Courtois said of his team’s play early in the game and the first goal by Plymouth senior Jesus Jiminez.
“The kids tried to react to some of the stuff. We were hoping it would be a wake-up call, but we were still in the game ... we were trying to put stuff together, trying to fight.
“First conference game, and this conference is tough. We tried to give them a good game, and we wished it would have gone the other way, but unfortunately that’s what happens.”
Plymouth senior Jorge Calix was credited with the game’s second goal, while Jiminez scored the goal as the final horn sounded.
The Tigers cut the advantage in half with their only goal when senior Eric Ocock was denied on penalty kick attempt but scored on the rebound in the 66th minute.
Warsaw had multiple chances to score late in the contest but couldn’t capitalize.
“We had plenty of opportunities to even it up,” said Courtois. “That’s the luck of the game. You can be wide open and not put it in the net. We’ll go back to practice and regroup. We’ve got to get ready for Penn on Saturday.”
Plymouth took three corner kicks in the game to Warsaw’s two.
The Rockies were whistled for nine fouls, while the Tigers committed 11 fouls.
Fierce rivals in every sport, Thursday’s game between Warsaw and Plymouth was quite physical.
“We were sitting on the sidelines as coaches, and we said that this is the kind of game we remember playing against Plymouth,” said Courtois. “That’s the kind of Plymouth team we always play. They come in aggressive, and our guys are classy ... classy and physical usually clash.”
