The Warsaw Lady Tigers opened their sectional run with an impressive 4-2 win over a talented Ft. Wayne Northrop squad.
It didn't take
Lola Pepper long to make an impact in the game, as she found her first career sectional goal just six minutes into the game. The first half
continued to go back and forth, as Northrop would score seven minutes later to even the score 1-1. Both teams would scatter chances in the remaining minutes of the first half keeping the game scoreless going into the half.
As the second half began, Warsaw turned up the intensity, applying high pressure on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field. The pressure paid off, as
Rylee Burns found
Lola Pepper for her second goal of the night just seven minutes into the half. Warsaw, not being satisfied with the one goal, stole possession of the Northrop kickoff and scored again just thirty seconds after their previous goal. Once again it was
Lola Pepper on the board, giving Pepper
her first career sectional hat trick.
With the 3-1 lead, Warsaw looked to get another goal to put Northrop away.
Rylee Burns split two Bruin defenders and found herself going to goal, but was tripped up and fouled at the last second, giving Warsaw a penalty kick. Abby Kohler took the kick and ripped it past the Bruin goalkeeper, giving Warsaw the 4-1 lead.
Northrop fought back, pressing hard immediately from their kickoff and scoring within a minute of Warsaw's goal. Both teams created quality chances in the last five minutes, but junior
Claire German came up with some big saves for Warsaw as the 4-2 scoreline would stand.
Along with Pepper's 3 goals and Kohler's goal,
Rylee Burns was credited with two assists and
Kaiden Pepper registered an assist of her own.The win moves Warsaw to 12-4-2 and on to the semifinals.
They will face Columbia City, who earlier won a thriller in penalty kicks over Huntington North. The game will be played at Northrop High School and will kickoff at 5:30pm. The winner will move on to the championship and play the winner of the Homestead vs. Ft. Wayne Wayne game.
