Walsh lifts Warren past Carmel
In his fourth year as Warren’s goalkeeper, Brady Walsh has had time to grow into the job.
He’s taken full advantage — the seniors is now one of the best goalkeepers in area and perhaps the state.
Walsh earned a clean sheet with 7 saves in a 2-0 shutout over host Carmel Catholic in a nonconference game on Monday morning.
“I’ve had some goalie training, and a number of guys tell me it’s my athletic ability,” Walsh said. “I just do what I can and keep my team in the game.”
Walsh has the aggressive nature required of the job.
“That’s one of the main things as a goalkeeper, to man the box and it’s yours,” Walsh said. “You want to stop the ball, but if someone comes in there, you want to protect yourself and the box.
“My defense limits the other team’s chances as much as possible.”
Against Carmel, those defenders included Billy Eddy, Jeff Kinka, Timmy Pieper and Chris Travis.
Warren coach Jason Ahonen has seen Walsh’s efforts improve over the last four years.
“He’s one of the best quality keepers in this half of the state, if not the entire state,” Ahonen said. “(Walsh) has size, athleticism and leadership. He’s grown into his position and he’s an ‘A’ student. Just a competitor and a quality keeper.”
Warren improved its record to 14-3-3 but had to play the game with four starters sitting on the bench due to injuries: Patrick Schulz (leg), Alexis Lopez (knee), Alex Brunnell (knee) and Leon Mardehow (ankle).
“We had to go much deeper in the program,” Ahonen said. “We’re banged up right now. We’re not missing a guy here and there, but four big starters.
“It showed for a while, and it was a game of who was going to put the ball into the back of the net. We wanted to come in and stay healthy. Nobody got hurt and we’re moving into the right direction.”
The Blue Devils got their first goal from Ryan Foster in the ninth minute off an assist from Daniel Szczepanek. Tony Severini scored the other goal in the final 9 seconds of the game off a second assist from Szczepanek.
Carmel (11-5-3) lost for the first time in its last 5 games. The Corsairs had some scoring opportunities but seemed to be missing that finishing kick.
“We did have two to three decent chances,” Halloran said, “That’s the game, and sometimes you don’t finish — and sometimes (Warren) did finish. It was a pretty equal game.
“Brady (Walsh) is the real deal. There’s no question about it. There was a half dozen times in the game against a softer keeper, where we can get a foot or a head on it. Walsh was just very, very good.”