Morgan Tanzillo (1) scored a goal in the 63rd minute to give Dowagiac to a 1-1 tie with Brandywine Friday night. (The Daily News/Scott Novak)

By SCOTT NOVAK

Dowagiac Daily News

Visiting Brandywine scored a goal late in the first half and Dowagiac scored a goal late in the second half as the two teams had to settle for a 1-1 draw that left both coaches pleased with their team’s performance Friday evening.

For Brandywine coach Evan Winkler it was a solid performance considering a trio of starters and four players were missing from the non-conference clash.

Starters Carlie Newman, who plays goalie for the Bobcats, Sam Low and Kaley Jones were unavailable on Friday night as was Mackenzie Shelton. Low and Jones were taking part in a choir function for Brandywine, while Newman and Shelton were playing at a basketball tournament.

“I am really happy with the outcome,” Winkler said. “Being down four starters, I thought people stepped up and played real well. We got some girls that haven’t really played a lot this year that got a lot of minutes tonight.”

Dowagiac coach Mike Williams was pleased because his team, which hasn’t played in early three weeks, made strides from its opening match loss.

“I wasn’t disappointed with the way we played, just the way we didn’t finish,” Williams said of his offensive chances. “We looked 100 percent better than we did against Cass, so I’m happy with that. Overall, we went to the right spots, made the right runs and covered for each other.”

Nicole Newman put the Bobcats on the scoreboard late in the opening half as she scored an unassisted coach in the 34^th minute.

The two teams battled back and fourth with each other, as well as with the gusty winds.

Dowagiac took advantage of that wind late in the second half when goalkeeper Jo Jo Pickar punted the ball out of her end of the field and directly to Morgan Tanzillo, who took the bouncing ball, dribbled past the Bobcat defense and scored at a tough angle to knot the score in the 63^rd minute.

“Morgan has great ball-handling skills and can deliver shots,” Williams said. “She’s the whole package. But at times, she slows herself down and that takes away her scoring opportunities. I’ve told here to take the ball in and not slow down and she did that tonight.”

Dowagiac outshot Brandywine 15-3, but the play of Brandywine keeper Morgan Antus kept the came match close. Antus finished with seven saves.

“I thought she played really well,” Winkler said of Antus.

Brandywine…1

Dowagiac…1

Halftime score

Brandywine 1, Dowagiac 0

First half

B – Nicole Newman 34^th minute

Second half

D – Morgan Tanzillo 63^rd minute

Shots on goal

Brandywine 3, Dowagiac 15

Saves

Brandywine 7 (Morgan Antus)

Dowagiac 0 (Jo Jo Pickar)

Varsity records: Brandywine 2-3-1, Dowagiac 0-1-1