Path in state tournament laid out for #5 Braves

The IHSAA released the pairings for the upcoming girls’ soccer state tournament and the Bellmont Braves were given the brutal reminder of just how difficult their path is to the program’s first regional title since 2018.

Ironically, if the records and past history are considered, the path to semi-state and state titles will seem like a cakewalk compared to the gauntlet of opponents leading to the regional trophy.

Coach Steve Lee’s team won regional championships in consecutive years from 2016 to 2018, spanning the time when the IHSAA transitioned from two classes to three. Since then, they’ve been stymied by some outstanding teams, many of which have gone on to win state titles.

The Braves will be heavy favorites to defend their sectional title and make it ten sectionals in a row, but they’ll still need to perform at their best at Canterbury. Bellmont will take on New Haven in the Wednesday late game. They’ll need to manage minutes and avoid injury against the Bulldogs, who finally broke their long losing streak earlier this year.

The semifinal opponent for the Braves is likely to be Norwell. The Knights will play Canterbury, who have just two wins, and there has been plenty written about the long rivalry between Bellmont and Norwell over the years. The Knights’ prolific scorer, Grace Mann, has 27 goals this year, but they were shut out (3-0) by Bellmont earlier this year. The postseason rematches between the two teams have often been contentious, no doubt, in part, to the fact that Norwell and Bellmont have in recent years rotated hosting the tournament.

Heritage, Bishop Luers and Woodlan will fight for a spot in the Saturday evening final with the Braves.

If the Braves do navigate the three sectional games and raise the trophy on October 10th at Canterbury, they will spend very little time celebrating, because a Thursday regional semifinal game will loom heavy on the team’s minds. A rematch against Bishop Dwenger seems written in the stars, although last year’s anticipated clash between the two teams did not come to fruition after the Saints were knocked out by Concordia Lutheran.

Bishop Dwenger would host Bellmont if both teams win sectional. That game would be played on Thursday, October 16th. The winner would advance to the regional final two days later at Mishawaka Marian.

Marian are the defending regional champions, having beaten the Bellmont Braves in last year’s final on their home field. The Knights went on to lose the state championship match to Lawrenceburg in heartbreaking PK fashion.

Mishawaka Marian, ranked #1 in the state in 2A, will play South Bend St. Joe, ranked #2, in their sectional opener. They defeated St. Joe (2-0) three weeks ago.