By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – In a defensive struggle at Brandywine field on Monday night, the Bobcat varsity soccer team shut out a persistent Buchanan squad 2-0.
The Bucks had plenty of opportunities in the initial phase of Division 3 district soccer playoff action, but their efforts seemed to come up inches wide or high in vain attempts to put the ball into the net.
Victorious Brandywine coach, Jim McNamara, assessed the game. "We came out flat, but the defense kept us in the game. I'm proud of the defense, because after the first 15 minutes they didn't get many good shots. Then we popped them (the two goals) in. Brian Exner kept us in the game early with his saves."
"Not finishing is the story of our season," lamented Buck coach Brian Pruett. "When we've played these guys we've outplayed them. Their guys played hard, and didn't give us chance to win the ball in the second half. We have a lot of young kids that showed a lot of good things. If we keep working at it, we have a bright future."
The first half began with Buchanan on the charge. Ryan Catalano of the Bucks had the first shot on goal for either team, but Brandywine keeper Brian Exner was equal to the task with a sharp save. Paul Kidd and Richie Reed helped Buchanan with great ball control in the early part of the game.
Brandywine's defense was the story of the night. Numerous offensive thrusts by the Bucks offense were rebuffed by a host of the hosts. Nathan Baliant, Tyler Weedon, Stone Hadley, Will Coar, Greg Beaver, Travis Bakeman and Aaron Marquardt all seemed to come through on defense when Buchanan mounted any pressure in the first 10 minutes of the match.
Brandywine had gathered little momentum to get the offense in gear, but a great throw in by Greg Beaver and a picture-perfect header by Brett Gilpin at 28:42 gave the home team all that they would need for the win.
With 17:19 remaining in the first half, Beaver began the second scoring play of the night. Beaver's throw in was accompanied by an acrobatic head-butt by Elliot Richards. Gilpin then slammed the ball by Buchanan goalie Tyler Knisely to tally his second score of the night.
The half ended with Brandywine ahead, 2-0.
The second half was like a ping pong contest. Shots flew back and forth, near the net, but never into it. Jose Negrete of Buchanan swept in to field a nice centering pass from A.J.Knight, but shot the wide to the right.
Brandywine's Will Coar had an excellent at chance at 23:47 with a goal kick due to a handball penalty. His bullet was just high enough to miss, over the crossbar. A breakaway by Jake Harris of the Bobcats was unsuccessful when Harris's shot flew wide past a diving Knisely.
Looking forward, McNamara added," We go one more game on Wednesday, probably against the No. 2 team in the state, South Haven." You never know until everything unfolds. Sometimes the best things happen at the end."
Buchanan…0
Brandywine…2
Halftime Score
Brandywine 2, Buchanan 0
First Half
BW – Brett Gilpin, a. Greg Beaver 28:42
BW – Brett Gilpin, a. Elliot Richards, a. Greg Beaver; 17:19
Shots on goal
Brandywine 5
Buchanan 4
Saves
Brandywine (Exner) 4
Buchanan (Knisely) 3