Leader Publications

It’s been a tough start to the season for the Brandywine soccer team.

But Thursday afternoon, the host Bobcats were able to smile a bit following their 2-2 draw with Lakeland Conference foe Coloma.

It wasn’t the elusive victory it has been searching for, but Brandywine will take it. After all, the Bobcats have been outscored 36-1 so far this season and their 2-1 loss to Bridgman was the lone match that had gone the distance before Thursday night.

“This was a huge bounce back for us,” Brandywine coach Evan Winkler said. “Cassopolis and Coloma tied 2-2 and we got beat 8-0 versus Cass. We have been working really hard the last couple of days in practice on a couple of things and I thought we really translated it from the practice field to the game field.

“We got Morgan Antus back. She’s been out for the last five games. We finally have everyone able to play. The girls just played really hard and didn’t quit. We have been getting beaten really bad, but they have just stuck with it.”

The Bobcats (1-5, 0-2-1 Lakeland) got on the board quickly as Margaret Beaver scored the first of her two goals just three minutes into the match. Katherine Luczkowski assisted on the goal.

It appeared that Brandywine would go into halftime with that goal advantage, but the Comets scored with just 52 seconds left in the first period to knot the score at 1-1.

Meghan Guntz picked up the goal for the Comets.

Coloma then grabbed the lead early in the second half as Kaisa Ala-Venna found the back of the net in the 45th minute.

It took nearly 20 minutes, but the Bobcats got the equalizer.

Beaver scored again, this time off an assist from Brooke Smith in the 64th minute.

From there, the Bobcats played solid defense and keeper Alexandra Wilson made the stops she needed to in order to preserve the victory.

“Ali played great,” Winkler said. “She’s been kind of frustrated too. I am really proud of her. She’s stuck with it and made some great saves. I feel like a couple of those would have gone in if she hadn’t have made those stops.”

Brandywine hosts Berrien Springs in another Lakeland match tonight at 5 p.m.

Coloma…2

Brandywine…2

Halftime score

Coloma 1, Brandywine 1

First half

BW – Margaret Beaver third minute (Katherine Luczkowski assist)

C – Meghan Guntz 40th minute

Second half

C – Kaisa Ala-Venna 45th minute

BW – Beaver 64th minute (Brooke Smith assist)

Shots on goal

Coloma 8

Brandywine 2

Saves

Coloma 0 (Cari Jarvis)

Brandywine 6 (Alexandra Wilson)

Varsity records

Coloma 2-1-4, 0-1-2 Lakeland; Brandywine 1-5, 0-2-1 Lakeland