Bobcats, Bucks play to 1-1 draw

Published 4:29 am Friday, September 28, 2007

By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – In their final Lakeland Conference soccer game of the season Brandywine and Buchanan played to a 1-1 tie. On line in Thursday's battle was the number five seed for next weeks league tournament.
Buchanan took a 1-0 lead in the first half on a goal by A.J. Knight. Jake Harris tied the game four minutes into the second half.
Both teams had opportunities to score, but some great stops by each teams goalie, Tyler Knisely for Buchanan and Brian Exner tending goal for the Bobcats.
"Both goalies came up huge down the stretch," a pleased Jim McNamara of Brandywine said. "It's just a fun game to watch and be a part of. These two teams have always battled hard and it's usually a one goal game. We had some opportunities and they had some opportunities and the goalies played great both ways."
McNamara thought his team played a good game.
"We have been struggling and tonight we moved the ball well and played with great intensity. Everybody communicated. It was just 11 guys going hard. That's what we have been preaching all year. It's nice that they finally put one together. It would have been great for a win just as long as my teams play hard I don't care."
On the other side, coach Brian Pruett was not happy with the outcome. "Another game that we had the lead going into the second half and we blew it," Pruett said. "It's disappointing because overall the kids played well. We gave the to many opportunities at the 18 and Brandywine had a lot of chances to win it. I give them credit they played an awesome game and they had as many opportunities as we did and we gave it to them."
Pruett was not happy with the performance of his team's defense.
"We just gave they to many chances and we are going to have to pick this up going into next weeks conference tournament.
We have a lot to work on and I'm not happy with a tie like that."
The Bobcats goal came on a defensive mistake by the Bucks according to Pruett.
"Defensively we didn't mark up and we have had this issue going on for a few weeks now. We try to tell them stick with your man, get in his pocket, to many times we are not marking our man and that's when you give the other team a chance. Brandywine took advantage of the opportunity we gave them."
Brandywine…1
Buchanan…1
Halftime Score
Buchanan 1, Brandywine 0
First Half
BU – A.J. Knight, 33:25
Second Half
BW – Jake Harris, 36:24
Shots on Goal
Buchanan 15
Brandywine 12
Saves
Buchanan 3 (Tyler Knisely)
Brandywine 8 (Brian Exner)
2572-#15 Brandywine Brett Gilpin- Buchanan #8 A.J. Knight
2590- #24 Brandywine Joseph Saenz- Buchanan #16 Kyle Sears