By STEVE MORRISON
Dowagiac Daily News

NILES – The phrase, “there is no offense, like a good defense‚” certainly came into play as the Brandywine soccer team rebounded from a recent defeat, a tie, and a key injury to senior forward Samantha Low to shutout Cassopolis 2-0 at Selge Field Thursday.

Defenders Kaley Jones, Morgan Smallwood, Mackenzie Shelton, Morgan Antus, Kaylynn Vineyard, Liz Varner and Lanisha Brann threw their bodies into heavy support aiding keeper Carlie Newman, who made some spectacular plays, to shutout the Rangers.
Jones scrambled all over the middle of the field, blocking shot after shot and Shelton’s long boots sent the ball the opposite direction, repeatedly. Smallwood, Antus and Vineyard were particularly impressive, blocking the ball early in the game.

Carlie Newman smothered a point blank dribble at 5:15 to rob Cassopolis’ star center forward Bjargey Olafsson of a sure goal.

Olafsson and Megan Ruff were the leaders on the attack for the Rangers, but were constantly rebuffed by the Bobcat backfield.

For Cass, freshman Jocelyn Transou, Anna Bosler, Hannah Ayers, Jessica Biek and Lizzy Mays turned in some fine defensive efforts to keep the Bobcats within reach. Molly Moroz made 13 solid saves to spark her teammates.

Ruff hit the right post with a shot near the eight minute mark, and Moroz made a solid save of Bobcat Michaela Greer’s five-foot bomb at 9:26. Moroz deflected another breakaway shot from Greer at 14:27.

The ice was finally broken by co-captain senior Nicole Newman, for Brandywine. At 17:12, Newman lofted a 20-yard rainbow, on a pass from Greer, that floated high and deep over the outstretched hands of a leaping Moroz.

With the ‘Cats in the lead, Ruff stole through the Brandywine defense with a rush, but Carlie Newman’s save, on the left side of the net, stopped her charge.

Off of a swift pass from Greer, Angelika Anderson deposited a 20-footer past Moroz to put the Bobcats ahead 2-0 at 28:19.

The half ended with that margin.

After 50 minutes, Carlie Newman snatched another bullet from Olafsson as Cass picked up the offensive charge. Newman sparkled in the net, again, in the second half, making five more of her 10 saves to hold off the Rangers. Kaylee Jones, Shelton, and Kayli Hatch tackled the ball, like linebackers, to turn away the Cass attack.

Brandywine coach, Evan Winkler, was ecstatic over his team’s performance.

“We really responded. We really needed this win,” said Winkler. “On Monday we lost to Edwardsburg, we didn’t really play very good soccer. Yesterday we played better, and we got the tie with Buchanan,” Winkler continued. “To stay in the hunt for conference (title), if we had lost today, there is no way we would have won.”

“We’re 6-5 in conference, we’re 4-1-1. We’re still one game back from Edwardsburg. As long as we win out, we’re still able to tie for the conference (championship,” he stated. “We play them (Edwardsburg) and Buchanan one more time, so this was a big game for us. We had to respond, and we really stepped up. I’m really proud of how we played, defensively.”

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

First half
BR – Nicole Newman (Michaela Greer assist) 17:12
BR – Angelika Anderson (Nicole Newman assist)
Second half
No scoring

Shots on goal
Brandywine 15, Cassopolis 9

Saves
Brandywine 9 (Carlie Newman
Cassopolis 13 (Molly Moroz)
Varsity records: Brandywine 6-5-2, 4-1-1 Lakeland; Cassopolis 5-4