DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
After getting off on the right foot in dominating fashion in Saturday’s scrimmage, the Bellmont Braves faced a much different opponent Monday in their regular season opener, falling 9-0 to the Northrop Bruins in Fort Wayne in boys varsity soccer action.
The Braves were heavy underdogs in the contest and they were under heavy pressure from the start by a precise and dangerous attack by the Bruins, who had for Bellmont great Billy Foreman on the bench as an assistant coach.
Senior goalkeeper Parker Frietas was the man of the match for the Braves, racking up eight saves and extending the game much further into the night than Bellmont probably deserved due to the mercy rule.
The half time score stood at just 3-0 in favor of the home side, but a barrage late in the second half took the game quickly from 6-0 to out of hand, ending with the 9-0 scoreline with seven minutes left in the contest.
Frietas made a fine save in just the third minute to give the Braves some hope and they handled the pressure applied by the home side for the opening 15 minutes, until Brandon Vidal Arias took a shot from the left side, just outside the box and beat Frietas for the opening goal.
In a sign of things to come, the Braves quickly conceded again just 20 seconds later on an own goal. Five minutes later, Diego Reynoso Pacheco took a through ball from the midfield, drawing Frietas out of his goal. He calmly slotted it home with the side of his foot for the Bruins’ third.
The Braves did respond in the final 15 minutes of the half and Frietas kept the Bruins out with a fine double save in the 29th minute. That was followed by the team’s first shot on goal by Henry Faurote.
A quick halftime talk ensued from head coach Jake Briede and the starters returned to the pitch for the second half, where the first five minutes belonged to the Braves. Senior captain Jake Hackman found Faurote on a through ball for another shot on target and a minute later, Jack Johnson had the best chance at scoring of the match for the away side with a powerful shot that was saved by the Bruin keeper.
The legs, however, began to tire and Northrop’s class and crisp passing got the better of the Braves. Two goals off the bottom side of the crossbar, including an absolute golazo by Mang En in the 62nd minute, made it 7-0.
Alex Outtara used his size to score the final two goals for Northrop in a span of 40 seconds to end the game prematurely.
The Braves will be back in action Wednesday at home against a much different opponent as they host one of their biggest rivals – the Heritage Patriots.
Scoring Summary
15′ – Brandon Vidal Arias (1-0)
16′ – Own Goal (2-0)
21′ – Diego Reynoso Pacheco (3-0)
53′ – Diego Reynoso Pacheco (4-0)
57′ – Nerwin Echeto (5-0)
62′ – Mang En (6-0)
69′ – Jacob Hatton (7-0)
72′ – Alex Outtara (8-0)
73′ – Alex Outtara (9-0)
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