Speedy senior forward Jaleesa Garner scored two goals and senior goalkeeper Sloan Kangas made 14 saves Wednesday, as Brandywine edged Buchanan 3-2 in BCS Conference girls soccer at sunny Buchanan Middle School.

“J is a special athlete,” Brandywine coach Evan Winkler said of Garner, who also assisted on sophomore midfielder Amber Boocher’s goal in helping the Bobcats move to 7-3-1 overall and 3-1 in the BCS Conference. “There are not many people who are going to be faster than her and win balls off of her.”

Like the visitors did Wednesday, Winkler said he often has his team attack the middle of the field and take advantage of Garner’s quickness.

“We send some through balls to her and she’s going to beat most people,” Winkler said. “We just want to keep keep putting pressure (on the opponent) and making opportunities happen.”

Buchanan sophomore goalie Mad Schau made five stops, including three in succession off point-blank chances near the end of the first half that would have given Garner even more goals.

“Breakaways are not easy to defend, but (Schau) made some great saves and really kept them in the game,” Winkler said.

“She was a beast,” Bucks coach Kate Coules said of her keeper. “She made some extraordinary saves. It was like, ‘how did that happen?’”

Coules said it took awhile for her team to adjust to the Bobcats. But once that happened, the play improved.

“Once we got refocused and utilized our passing and our strengths, it was awesome,” Coules said. “I’m very proud.”

Buchanan (6-4-1, 2-2) got goals from sophomores Nicole Harding and Erica Mitchell. For Mitchell, it was the 20th on the season. She is pursuing the school record of 25 set by Morgan French.

Brandywine visits Hartford today and then plays Cassopolis in the first round of the VanDenBerg Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday.

 

BRANDYWINE 3, BUCHANAN 2

 

At Buchanan

Halftime score

Brandywine 2, Buchanan 0

First half

BW – Amber Boocher (Jaleesa Garner assist) 8th minute.

BW – Garner (Cassandra Luczkowski) 40th.

 

Second Half

BU – Nicole Harding (Kristen Clark) 52nd.

BW – Garner (Alexia Martinez) 70th.

BU – Erica Mitchell (unassisted) 74th.

 

Shots on goal

Buchanan 17, Brandywine 9.

 

Saves

Brandywine 14 (Sloan Kangas), Dowagiac 5 (Mad Schau).

 

Corner kicks

Brandywine 3, Buchanan 1.

Varsity records:

Brandywine 7-3-1, 3-1 BCS; Buchanan 6-4-1, 2-2 BCS.