By AMELIO RODRIGUEZ
Niles Daily Star

The Brandywine Bobcats girls varsity soccer team played host to the South Haven Rams in the first round of the Division 3 District tournament.

The Rams escaped with a 2-1 victory and will advance to play Paw Paw who drew a bye in the first round.

Brandywine struggled in the first half falling behind 1-0 as Michelle Sondgerath found the back of the net for the visitors at the 13:26 mark, with an assist to Dakota Trinka.

“The first half we were back on our heels, and playing in our own end of the field for nearly all of the half, except for the middle ten minutes or so. We weren’t winning any balls, we were kind of relaxed, and we just lacked effort,” said Brandywine coach Evan Winkler.

The Bobcats couldn’t capitalize on any of their scoring opportunities in the first half, and they trailed 1-0 at the intermission.

The second half started with Brandywine looking like a different team. The ‘Cats were more aggressive going after the ball.

They played with more intensity and effort, and it all culminated into a goal just minutes into the second half. Nicole Newman scored the goal, her 23rd of the season, on a direct kick 4:07 into the second half. South Haven goalkeeper Claire Trapp was able to get her hands on the kick, but it was too much for her to handle as it slipped by her and into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

Just over five minutes later was what turned out to be the play of the game. With South Haven pushing the ball deep into Brandywine territory, a couple of Bobcat defenders were back helping defend the goal, and as they were attempting to clear the ball out of the zone it ricocheted off of a South Haven player back over the head of Brandywine goalie Carlie Newman, for an own goal, and a 2-1 South Haven lead at the 49:32 point.

The last 30 minutes of the game both teams had great chances to score, but neither team could capitalize.

The Rams held on to beat the ‘Cats 2-1, ending the Bobcats season with a 10-8-3 record.

The Bobcats battled most of the season through injuries to several key players, and they still managed to have a pretty good season.

“It’s a tough way to end the season. I mean we played great the second half,” Winkler said. “I just wish we would have had that effort the first half. We played really hard, and we left everything on the field.”

“We played hard, Nicole played great, and she has played great all year. She is probably one of the best players I have ever coached, and she has worked really hard”, he said.