Cassopolis goalkeeper Zach Kieffer is struck in the head by the knee of Brandywine's Matthew Liebetrau during Monday night's match. The Rangers defeated the Bobcats 2-1 in the Lakeland Conference opener for both schools. (Daily Star Photo/SCOTT NOVAK)

By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

Cassopolis’ Ryan Nickels lofted a shot from just outside the box over the top of Brandywine keeper Jason Andrews for the match-winner Monday night.

The Rangers defeated the Bobcats for the second time this season.

Cassopolis edged Brandywine 1-0 at the VanDenBerg Invitational in its second match of the season.

The Rangers opened up their Lakeland Conference season with a 2-1 victory, which according to Cass coach Oli Olafsson might be the first team the team has ever won its league opener.

After a scoreless first half, Cassopolis finally found the back of the net in the 49th minute when Thomas Beauchamp took a long ball and outran the Bobcat defense to beat a charging Andrews.

Brandywine was able to knot the match at 1-1 on a goal by Alex Moreno in the 61st minute.

While Brandywine was able to control the midfield for much of the match, the Rangers were able to use their speed advantage on defense and on offense.

“They played faster than we did,” Brandywine coach Jim McNamara said. “I don’t know if they were overall faster than we are, but they played faster than us.”

“We were on defense and our forwards were able to get to the ball better, but they actually won more balls in the midfield,” Olafsson said. “They weren’t able to transition as fast as we were and that was in part because of our quick defense.”

Cassopolis played most of the match with its third goalkeeper Kyle Carpenter after backup keeper Zach Kieffer went down with a possible concussion after colliding with Brandywine’s Matthew Liebetrau as he came out to play the ball.

Liebetrau’s knee struck the side of Kieffer’s head.

After laying on the field motionless for a short period of time, he was able to walk off the field with some assistance and spent the rest of the match sitting on the bench.

Cassopolis is now 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

Cassopolis…2
Brandywine…1
Halftime score
Cassopolis 0, Brandywine 0

Second half
C – Thomas Beauchamp 49th minute (Blaise Suseland assist)
B – Alex Moreno 61st minute
C – Ryan Nickel 74th minute