By By JEFF FISHER / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Brandywine Bobcats held off a late second half charge by the Granger Christian Lady Knights to end the game with a 2-2 tie Friday evening at home.
The Granger Christian Lady Knights came into the game with a little chip on their shoulder. They have not lost to a Lakeland Conference team since the 2003-04 season when they lost to Bridgman on May 13. Since then, they have reeled off eight straight victories against LAC teams and have outscored the teams 26-4.
Granger head coach Rick Wood attributes their success to experience.
The Bobcats' first threat came at about the 18th minute mark when the shot went wide. The Knights followed with a shot of their own but that also went wide of the net.
Brandywine's first tally happened at the 37 minute mark, when Jill Sinkoff drilled in a shot that went over the head of Knights' net minder Andrea Book for a Bobcats 1-0 lead.
The score remained 1-0 at halftime.
The Lady Bobcats would strike again at the 58 minute mark when Kalie Newman punched the ball in off a Brooke Allen assist to lead 2-0.
The Lady Knights would finally crack the scoreboard at the 72 minute mark when Amanda Mooth powered in a shot that went off the hands off the Bobcats' goalkeeper Katie Smallwood.
The Knights' Cathryn Frazier would score again five minutes later to tie the game up at 2-2.
Brandywine would have one last chance to win the game but time ran out.
“It was our first game and it showed a lot, I thought our hustle was good, our execution wasn't what it could be. I was proud of them for hanging in at the end being down by two goals with ten minutes to go and they got them back. A tie is never exciting but it is better than a loss. Brandywine played a real good game and I thought their keeper (Katie Smallwood) played real well,” added Rick Wood.
The Bobcats feature a lineup consisting of three seniors and three junior with the rest of the team underclassmen, which gives Brandywine head coach Jim McNamara reason for optimism.
“Earlier in the weeks we played a couple of decent teams, but nowhere near this team (Granger). We came out we were the aggressors, we made a couple position switches that seemed to work. We have a really young team and we will have games where we play well and games where we play really bad, but they are starting to get what we are working for. Our girls want to do well and that helps and the seniors keep pushing them. When the time comes, we are going to be tough to beat,” McNamara said.
Coach McNamara was especially proud of goal keeper Katie Smallwood.
The Bobcats return to the field again Wednesday April 19 when they host Lake Michigan Catholic.
Brandywine…………2
Granger Christian….2
First half
B Jill Sinkoff in the 37th minute (Kalie Newman assist)
Second half
B Kalie Newman in the 58th minute (Brooke Allen assist)
GC Amanda Mooth in the 72 minute (unassisted)
GC Cathryn Frazier in the 77th minute (unassisted)
Shots on goal
Brandywine 8
Granger Christian 10
Saves
Katie Smallwood (Br) 6
Andrea Book (GC) 8
Records
Brandywine 0-5-1
Granger 0-0-1