The Brandywine Bobcats girls’ soccer played host to the Buchanan Bucks on Tuesday in Lakeland Conference play.

Ironically in what turned out to be a defensive battle, it was a defensive player that scored the only goal of the game as Morgan Smallwood connected with the back of the net from nearly 40 yards away to give the Bobcats the 1-0 victory.

“Our defense played well and Morgan Smallwood was everywhere,” said Brandywine coach Evan Winkler.

Both teams played really well defensively, which made getting quality shots on goal hard to come by.

Every time an offensive player was able to penetrate deep into the defensive zone the defense managed to make the play to keep the offense off the board.

Just under 25 minutes into the game as Buchanan was trying to bring the ball up field and put pressure on the Brandywine defense, Smallwood stepped in and took the ball away and started to bring it up field herself. As Buchanan’s defense dropped back to make sure every Bobcat player was marked it provided Smallwood with some room to continue to bring the ball up field. Just as a Buchanan defender began to approach her she lofted the ball up field toward the Buchanan goal. Buchanan’s goal keeper, Taylor Sokoloskis, took a couple of steps up in the box and it was just enough to allow the ball to sail over her head and into the back of the goal giving the Bobcats the 1-0 lead.

“It was one of those plays where it was played out close to midfield and we just got out of position,” said Buchanan coach Brian Pruett. “It’s one of those ones you hate to see you losing by because otherwise it was a pretty even game.”

Buchanan controlled the ball for most of the second half and managed to get off a couple of shots on goal, but never really threatened with a great look.

“I told the girls the second was a different story for us as we controlled the ball really well, we had the pressure, but you know, Smallwood back there on defense just does a great job of finding the ball and shutting down the pressure,” said Pruett. “When we did get past her we couldn’t get it past Carlie (Newman).”

For the Bobcats it was their first win in three weeks.

“It was great, we haven’t won in a while and you take a win whenever you can get it,” said Winkler. “It feels good, the girls really worked hard, and it is great to get the win. I thought the girls played well. Carlie made some saves that she needed to make, and I thought Angelika Anderson played great tonight.”

Brandywine (4-12-1) will host Granger Christian on Thursday, while Buchanan (5-9-1) will travel to Lake Michigan Catholic today.