Just one team in our Z-Land soccer coverage area remains after the Heritage Patriots were eliminated Wednesday up at Concordia, leaving the Bellmont girls as the last team standing in this year’s IHSAA postseason.
Join the Z Team pitch side Thursday night, live from Norwell as Mike Macke brings you the action for the semifinal game between Bellmont and Woodlan. That game is slated for a 7 p.m. start, but could vary depending on the length of the battle between Norwell and Canterbury on the other half of the bracket.
Stories, summaries and scores from last night around the area are right here:
By DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
There was little drama in Wednesday’s sectional opener for coach Steve Lee and his Bellmont Braves.
Not because the team was playing a familiar conference opponent with just one win in the last decade.
And not because the last time this program lost a sectional game was when freshman Oni Krueckeberg was in Kindergarten.
No, the reason the Braves prevailed Wednesday and advanced 9-0 to the sectional semifinal was because they are one of the most talented teams Lee has had in years, combining passing, wing play, outstanding finishing and a staunch defense that makes this team just a tad different than any of the other teams who have won ten of the last eleven sectional trophies.
That thesis statement of the 2024 Bellmont Braves was proven correct in the opening minute Wednesday against New Haven as Ashley Bleke scored her fourth goal of the last four weeks on a corner kick, allowing the favorites to lead the entire game and prepare for Woodlan on Thursday.
Freshmen scored five of the nine goals on the night for Coach Lee, with Krueckeberg scoring twice to lead the way. Kaitlyn Barton and Ella Sovine each added a goal, as well.
New Haven’s Abigail Snodgrass made 17 saves in a long goalkeeping night for the Bulldog keeper.
Maggie Wilson added a brace for the Braves to up her season goal tally to seven and Gwen Laurent became the first player on the team to reach a double-digit tally with her tenth of the season.
The Braves will play the second semifinal Thursday against Woodlan (8-9). Each of the Bellmont postseason games from this point on will be broadcast live by WZBD.
Other Local Girls’ Scores
2A at DeKalb
Bishop Dwenger 4 DeKalb 0
2A at Norwell
Woodlan 1 Bishop Luers 0
2A at Mississinewa
Yorktown 2 Mississinewa 0
Norwell outkicks Heritage to advance
By DEAN JACKSON
WZBD.com
FORT WAYNE — Norwell goalkeeper Phillip Gaier had plenty of experience with Heritage.
In 13 days, he’s faced the Patriots twice. That’s 177 minutes in the net against them. He didn’t need a scouting report; he lived it.
His educated guesses lifted the Knights to a 1-1 victory in the penalty kick round and a berth in the championship Saturday in the Class 2A Boys Sectional at Concordia.
Norwell (10-8) will now face ninth-ranked Concordia (11-6) Saturday at 7 p.m. at Zollner Stadium for the Class 2A Concordia sectional crown. The Cadets ousted second-ranked Bishop Luers 1-0 in the first semi-final game Wednesday.
“We’ve played these guys quite a bit,” Gaier said. “I started to pick them out slowly.”
After Norwell and Heritage sank their first three shots, Gaier guessed right to stop the final two attempts to lead his team to the win.
On the fourth PK, Aron Hernandez fired a shot to the right center of the goal. Gaier dove to deflect the shot.
Norwell took control when Eli Randol hit the left side of the net to make it 4-3.
Heritage was eliminated when Gaier blocked Cameron Rauner’s shot.
“I could tell they were coming across their body. I read that.”
Knights coach Kiel Nunn knew Gaier was up to the challenge.
“I was confident with Phil. I knew Phillip would step up for us at the end there.”
Sometimes it’s just nothing more than luck.
“You get to the PKs, anything can happen,” Heritage Coach Joel Bunnell said. “We’ve been there several times over the last couple of post-seasons, and we’ve had a lot of special moments, and then sometimes you’re on the wrong side of it, and you know, you gave it your all, but it just didn’t come your way.”
Gaier finished with seven saves.
The Knights fired 16 shots, including five on goal.
Norwell took the lead in the 39th minute. After a late foul that stopped the clock. Hudson Gerbers fired a 25-yard free kick from the left side. The perfectly placed shot found the net with:05 remaining in the first half.
“He’s got a leg on him. It was just solid. It was a great shot,” Nunn detailed.
Heritage (6-8-3) forced overtime with a goal in the 79th minute. Moharmed Ali scored on a toss-in from Cameron Rauner with 42 seconds left to tie it. The equalizer resulted from constant pressure from the Patriot offense. As often as Norwell cleared would-be shots, Rauner was positioned on the sideline to fire inbound throws repeatedly, half a dozen times in the final minutes.
Bunnell said Heritage was determined to keep the heat on the Knights as the clock ran out of time.
“We had a sense of urgency. You never know what’s going to come. So when the opportunity is there, whether it be five minutes, four minutes, or three minutes to go, you got to take the risk. You’re down one zero. You can’t hope one is going to come in the last two minutes or one minute. It did, but you can’t hope that. We were pressing the last six, seven minutes. Any opportunity to load up the box and make something happen.”
Elijah Rauner finished with five saves and faced seven shots for Heritage.
Other Local Boys’ Scores
2A at Concordia Lutheran
Concordia Lutheran 1 Bishop Luers 0
3A at Huntington North
Warsaw 3 Columbia City 0
Homestead 3 East Noble 0
3A at FW Northrop
FW Northrop 4 FW Snider 0
2A at Eastbrook
Jay County 4 Delta 1
1A at Blackhawk Christian
Blackhawk Christian 9 Prairie Heights 0
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