By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – A pair of second half goals lifted the host Brandywine Bobcats to a 4-2 victory over Coloma in a Lakeland Conference match.
According to Bobcats' coach Jim McNamara, the team did not play as well as it can.
"We got away with a win tonight without playing our best game and that means a lot to me with the youth on this team," he said. "We have been up and down all year. Tonight we started moving the ball from side to side and we were getting really good opportunities. We were all around the goal in the second half. Now we need to start converting."
Jake Wieger broke the 2-2 hafltime score with a goal in the 50th minute off an assist by Travis Bakeman.
Elliott Richards then capped the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 66th minute.
Brandywine opened the scoring with Bakeman scoring off a Greg Beaver assist in the 18th minute.
Coloma tied the game at 1-1 with a goal in the 20th minute, only to have the Bobcats reclaim the lead two minutes later on a goal by Jake Harris. Beaver also assisted on that goal.
The Comets were able to tie the score at 2-2 in the 32nd minute.
Brandywine finished the match with an 11-6 advantage in shots on goal. Bobcat goalkeeper Brian Exner was credited with three stops, while Coloma's Derrick Schriner finished with seven saves.
"Michael Money came off the bench tonight and played the best game of his career," McNamara said. "He is starting to show some leadership, so I am very proud of him. Defensively we still have too many breakdowns, but the young guys aren't making as many mistakes."
The Bobcats are back in action on Wednesday when they host Edwardsburg.
Coloma…2
Brandywine…4
Halftime Score
Coloma 2, Brandwyine 2
First Half
B – Travis Bakeman, Greg Beaver (assist) 18th minute
C – G. Perez, J. Lopez (assist) 20th minute
B – Jake Harris, Beaver (assist) 22nd minute
C – G. Veverra, Perez (assist) 32nd minute
Second Half
B – Jake Wieger, Bakeman (assist) 50th minute
B – Elliott Richards 66th minute
Shots on Goal
Brandywine 11, Coloma 6
Saves
Brandywine 3 (Brian Exner)
Coloma 7 (Derrick Schriner)