Host Brandywine took full advantage of playing with the wind at its back during the first half of Wednesday afternoon’s soccer match against Cassopolis.

The Bobcats deflated the Rangers’ hopes for a road victory by scoring five times during the first 40 minutes, en route to a 5-1 Lakeland Conference victory.

“It was a huge advantage,” Brandywine head coach Evan Winkler said about playing with the wind in the first half. “We got a lead and that put them down a little bit. That lead really lifted our spirits and helped our confidence. We finally finished some shots, but the passing is what set that up.”

Added junior goaltender, Brock Hartline: “With the wind, I was able to get (the ball) farther down to our forwards, who were running down the sideline, which helped them get a nice cross to the middle. It just really helped with everything.

Sophomore Zachary Schmidt and senior Alex Ulrickson accounted for all five goals by the Bobcats. Schmidt recorded his second hat trick of the season, while Ulrickson chipped in with a pair of goals and two assists.

Schmidt took a pass from Ulrickson in the sixth minute of the match that he blasted into the upper left corner of the net, and then added his second tally just less than 10 minutes later on a wind-aided shot from a little more than 40 yards.

Ulrickson notched his first goal during the 20th minute on a left-footed shot into the upper left corner of the net. Six minutes later, Ulrickson crossed the ball to Schmidt, who finished by slipping it past Cassopolis goalkeeper Tom Bosler into the lower right corner.

A wind-aided shot by Ulrickson from 35 yards made it 5-0 during the 35th minute.

“We kept the ball on the ground today,” Schmidt said. “We’ve had trouble with that in the past, but we did a good job with that (against Cassopolis).”

Cassopolis had the wind at its back for the final 40 minutes, but was rarely able to dent the Brandywine defense.

The Rangers’ lone goal of the match came off the foot of Cameron Hayden during the 54th minute, negating the shutout bid by Hartline.

“I thought Brock did a great job,” Winkler said. “He took away a lot of shots, and the defense played tough.”

“We were struggling to get the ball up in the second half, but we had a good, strong defensive effort in the second half,” added Hartline.

Cassopolis played Wednesday’s match with only 11 players in uniform, and there was a two-minute stretch during the second half during which they played with only 9 players on the field.

Still, the Rangers didn’t quit.

“Some of the younger kids never gave up, and that’s what you like to see,” Cassopolis head coach Tony Cantanzarite said. “Some of the older ones kind of resigned, but the young guys battled. We were missing six kids, including four with injuries.”

“I feel for Tony,” Winkler said. “I’ve been in that position and it’s really hard to play with nine, but they never quit. I’m sure Tony was proud of their effort.”

Hartline was credited with five saves, while Bosler made four saves for Cassopolis. Brandywine outshot the Rangers, 9-6.

 

Cassopolis…1

Brandywine…5

Halftime score

Brandywine 5, Cassopolis 0

 

First Half

BW – Schmidt, 6th minute

BW – Schmidt, 16th minute

BW – Ulrickson, 20th minute

BW – Schmidt, 26th minute

BW – Ulrickson, 35th minute

 

Second Half

C – Hayden, 54th minute

 

Shots on goal

Cassopolis 6

Brandywine 9

 

Saves

Bosler (Cassopolis), 4

Hartline (Brandywine), 5