Buchanan goalie Steve VanAlstine goes high for the save as Brandywine's Matthew Liebetrau (19) crashes into him. Corey Vylonis (21) and Cody Burkhard (6) look on. The Bobcats edged the Bucks 2-1 in the first round of the Lakeland tourney. (Daily Star Photo/TOM NYHUIS)

By TOM NYHUIS

Niles Daily Star

BUCHANAN — It was game one of the Lakeland Conference varsity soccer tournament for host Buchanan and visiting Brandywine Wednesday afternoon. The Bobcats came away with a 2-1 win and advanced to the next round of the tournament.

Brandywine’s Matthew Liebetrau picked up the two second half goals for the come-from-behind win for the Bobcats. Buchanan’s AJ Braziel gave the Bucks the early lead as he scored off a deflected corner kick by Dylan Arnold in the 33rd minute of the first half. That goal held up for the Bucks through the first half as the teams went into the intermission with a 1-0 lead.

“The first half I was really happy because we were without Ryan Catalano and without one of our main subs Charlie Johnson,” Buchanan coach Brian Pruett said. “We looked really well. We were passing and they were playing harder than I have seen in a while. I felt good after the first half.”

Catalano was sitting out after picking up a red card in the Bucks previous game and Johnson rolled his ankle earlier in the day according to Pruett.

Liebetrau’s first goal knotted the game at one in the 46th minute when he beat defender Corey Vylonis and goalkeeper Steve VanAlstine. Jordan Hatch earned the assist on the play for the Bobcats.

“At halftime I told the team that someone was going to have to step up,” Brandywine coach Evan Winkler said. “Someone has to make the challenge and they did. You could tell our intensity was much better in the second half and Matt stepped up big time. He has been struggling a little with his shot but he stepped up. And I’m so proud of Matt, a senior this year, and the defense played great. David Dykema was everywhere as was Alex, AJ and Elliott. The seniors played great. They came out and I told them it was their game and told them this was your last time in a conference tournament. They came out and played a great second half.”

Liebetrau got the game winner in the 61st minute with the assist coming from Jacob Wieger.

“When they (Brandywine) got that goal, you could see the tide turn and Brandywine’s aggregation came out and they played really hard. We let that first goal get us down and I felt like we just couldn’t get back into the game no matter what combination’s that we put in,” Pruett said.

Brandywine goalkeeper Jason Andrews finished the game with just two saves as the Bucks were limited to just three shots on goal through the 80-minute contest.

VanAlstine finished the day with seven saves as the Bobcats took nine shots.

Brandywine…2

Buchanan…1

Halftime score

Buchanan 1, Brandywine 0

First half

B – AJ Braziel (Corey Vylonis, assist)

Second half

BW – Matthew Liebetrau (Jordan Hatch, assist)

BW – Liebetrau (Jacob Wieger, assist)

Shots on goal

Brandywine 9

Buchanan 3

Saves

Brandywine 2 (Jason Andrews)

Buchanan 7 (Steve VanAlstine)