By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
After Brandywine's soccer team won its first district game in six years, coach Jim McNamara said every game from then out is icing on the cake.
He was still disappointed, however, to lose 4-1 to Bridgman in Wednesday's semifinal. Brandywine ended the season 8-10-1.
Despite the Bees being the more aggressive team, and a majority of the match spent with Bridgman on the attack, Brandywine played tough. Bridgman outshot the Bobcats 29-11, but Brandywine's defenders did a good job stopping the Bees when they were in close to the goal.
Bridgman struck first in the 31st minute of the game. The goal came from Mike Arnold on a penalty kick. The Bees were awarded the kick because of a hand-ball in the penalty box by a Bobcats' defender.
Brandywine got few shot attempts in the first half, but were able to knot the score at one apiece in the final minute of the half.
With 33 second remaining before halftime, Brandywine's Matt Beaver took a shot from 20 yards out. Beaver didn't kick the ball squarely, as it rolled slowly toward the goal. As Bridgman's goalkeeper Matt Haughey moved to his right to stop the shot, he slipped, and the ball bounced past him into the net.
Bees coach Woody Woolery gave credit to Brandywine's play in the first half, but said his team played poorly in the first half.
In the second half, Bridgman picked up its intensity, scoring three goals and shutting down the Bobcats except for two breakaways that didn't result in scores.
Brandywine was not without its scoring chances, however. With 14 minutes remaining, Travis Duncan attempted to chip a shot over Bridgman's goalie. Haughey jumped and grabbed the ball, but was falling backward as he did it. To keep the ball from crossing the goal-line, he tossed the ball back in play.
Duncan rushed the goal for a rebound shot, but kicked the ball right at Haughey who was still on the ground.
With little more than two minutes remaining, Brandywine's Matt Duckett had the ball on a breakaway. Haughey came out to stop him, but slipped. Duckett unleashed a shot, but kicked it to Haughey on the ground.
McNamara said he was disappointed to see the season end because the Bobcats were still improving. Wednesday's game was proof of that, he said.
The Bobcats have no reason to hang their head, McNamara told his players after the game. He said their whole postseason experience will benefit them next year, since his team is young. Brandywine has just two seniors on its team.