By By DON EDON / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS – The youthful Brandywine Bobcats soccer squad had its season ended by No. 4 ranked South Haven in the Division 3 district semifinals on Wednesday afternoon.
South Haven scored twice in the first four minutes with sophomore Eric Maynez and junior Aaron Phelps ramming in goals for the Rams.
Freshman Brian Exner made two of his eight saves at the 10 minute mark to thwart additional tallies.
"Brian has done a spectacular job for us this year as a freshman and knows he needs to keep working at it," Brandywine coach Jim McNamara said. "We started five freshmen and another is hurt, but we need to work in the off season to match what South Haven has become."
Junior Tyler Hamlin did find the back of the net twice before halftime for a 4-0 South Haven advantage.
Freshman Larry Garcia was responsible for both goals within 1:26 of the second half with an assist to senior Brendan Barnes and finished a shot past a diving Exner.
Substitutes finished the game with a couple of more goals to end it at the 60 minute mark with senior Pete Mitchell and sophomore Trevor Stricklin doing the honors.
"We play a very competitive non-conference schedule against some Division I schools to get us ready for the tournament," South Haven coach Benno Trenkle said. "Brandywine didn't quit for being such a young team and has a lot to look forward to."
McNamara wanted to punch one score across and none of the five shots had a chance, but just before half, a trio of Bobcats in front of the net couldn't get the opportunity.
"We knew we would take our lumps, but I saw some good things and look forward to the future."
Dowagiac…5
Edwardsburg…3
Dowagiac and Edwardsburg battled for the right to play South Haven in the championship match on Saturday.
The Chieftains accepted the challenge by beating the Eddies 5-3.
Sophomore defender Drew Luthringer kept the game scoreless by stopping a shot in the corner of the net and Dowagiac scored twice with junior Jason Hurrle and freshman Tyler Dean hitting the net to give Dowagiac a 2-0 lead.
Edwardsburg senior T.J. Treat scored the lone Eddies goal in the first half, however, the Chieftains would tack on another goal by Kasey Proshwitz to take a 3-1 lead into halftime.
Dowagiac opened the second half scoring with a penalty kick goal by Clay Hewitt in the 47th minute and then extended its lead to 5-1 Hurrle's second goal of the match.
Edwardsburg made the final score look a bit more respectable with late goals by junior Brett Gentry in the 74th minute and by Mike Rangel in the 76th minute.
"What a great game. It is always a battle come district time against Edwardsburg," Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. "We have been fortunate to come out on top the last three times we have played them in districts. All the boys played a very good game. Offensively, we attacked the goal as a team and put pressure on a very good keeper. Edwardsburg has a nice team and put a little scare in us the last 10 minutes.
"Now as we move to the finals against South Haven we have to step it. They are the No. 4 ranked team in the state. We are ready for the challenge."
Saturday's championship match will be played at Berrien Springs High School beginning at 10 a.m.
The winner advances to the Otsego regional.