The Bellmont Braves hopped on the bus Monday afternoon and made the trip to Waterloo for the traditional final-week matchup with the DeKalb Barons and they headed back home with a 3-0 win and a conference title.
While the Braves won’t overlook the fourth-place East Noble Knights on Thursday in the final NE8 game, they’ll take confidence from the fact that they’ve already beaten the teams standing in second (Leo) and third (DeKalb) this season.
A victory over East Noble at home will close out the regular season and clinch the full conference title, but the Braves are already thinking about one more home game – a regional game – if they can win the difficult Woodlan 2A sectional next week.
Grace Ruble started off the scoring in just the third minute with an assist from Kaitlyn Barton.
Barton then made it 2-0 with a long free kick goal and that score held up through halftime.
In the second half at 50′ it was a free kick by Oni Krueckeberg that went off the goalie and was swept in by Ashley Bleke for a 3-0 lead.
It’s the fourth straight NE8 title for the program, with the senior class going without a loss so far in conference play in their four years.
Fiona Schwartz had a goal in the JV game as the young Braves drew 1-1 with DeKalb.
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