Lake Michigan Catholic’s high intensity and depth proved to be too much for Brandywine Thursday, in the semifinals of the MHSAA Division 4 Brandywine District girls soccer semifinals.

The Lakers outshot the Bobcats 31-6 for the match and outscored the hosts 3-0 in overtime on the way to a 5-2 victory.

It was the third meeting between the two teams in as many weeks with Lake Michigan Catholic winning all three.

LMC (13-2-2) moves into the district championship against Bridgman (13-5-2 after a 4-3 semifinal win against Michigan Lutheran) at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 4 at Brandywine while Brandywine (11-7-1) saw its 2016 season come to an end.

The Lakers broke on top in the fifth minute on the first of senior midfielder Sarah McCoy’s two first-half goals.

The score was knotted at 1-1 when Brandywine senior forward Jaleesa Garner hustled and converted an assist from junior forward Alexis Garcia.

McCoy’s goal in the 27th minute allowed the Lakers to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. LMC held a 10-3 edge in shots in the first 40 minutes.

Bobcats coach Evan Winkler asked his team to “keep grinding” and that’s what it did.

“We knew they were going to put a lot of pressure on us,” Winkler said. “We had to just take it one play at a time and keep grinding and keep working. We had to let them know that we there every time and just keep harassing them enough.

“And when we get a chance, put one in. We knew it would be tough because they’re a great team.”

Brandywine earned a right-side corner kick chance in the 68th minute and senior Nichole Butler wound up tapping in junior Cassandra Luczkowski’s feed.

It was the third goal of Butler’s career — two this spring and one during her freshmen year.

The game went to overtime tied at 2-2.

By rule, two 10-minute overtime periods were played with teams changing directions for the second one.

LMC got three goals in the first extra session — two by senior forward Andi Ives and one by senior midfielder Christine Nuter.

“Brandywine always stays in the game with us,” Lakers coach Nick Foxworthy said. “We controlled the ball, we just couldn’t finish our shots before that extra period. We talked about picking it up another level and finishing them off and we stepped up and did it.”

 

 

 

DIVISION 4 DISTRICT

LAKE MICHIGAN CATHOLIC 5, BRANDYWINE 2

(Overtime)

At Brandywine

Halftime Score

LMC 2, Brandywine 1

 

First Half

LMC – Sarah McCoy, 5th minute.

B – Jaleesa Garner (Alexis Garcia), 11th.

LMC – McCoy, 27th.

 

Second Half

B – Nichole Butler (Cassandra Luczkowski), 68th

 

Overtime

LMC – Andi Ives, 84th.

LMC – Christine Nuter, 86th.

LMC – Ives, 89th.

 

Shots on goal

LMC 31, Brandywine 6.

 

Saves

LMC 4 (Monica Milanowski)

Brandywine 23 (Sloan Kangas).

 

Corner Kicks

LMC 6, Brandywine 3.

Varsity records: Lake Michigan Catholic 13-2-2, Brandywine 11-7-1.