A penalty in the second half awarded to the home Woodlan Warriors Tuesday was taken and converted by Dylan Graber and it was the only goal scored in a rather interesting clash between the ACAC school and the Bellmont Braves.
The context of the game, rescheduled from earlier in the year, changed for a second time when the IHSAA announced on Sunday evening that the two teams would meet in the sectional quarterfinal a week later at Concordia.
Knowing that the two programs would put their 2026 seasons on the line in a week, there was certainly hesitancy from both teams to take charge of the game. In addition, the Woodlan coaching staff did not name the school’s all-time leading goalscorer in the starting lineup. Senior Lucas Gramajo did not appear in the match, but is expected to play at Zollner Field in the postseason meeting between the two teams.
Bellmont controlled the possession in the first half, eating up more than 60% of the ball with a back line formation of Romeo Antunes, Malachi LaVine, Jack Barton and Carsten Hudson providing solid defense. It was, much like Woodlan’s gamesmanship with Gramajo, quite a departure from the normal formation for Bellmont coach Jake Briede.
The game was ultimately about building confidence for the second meeting and neither team was willing to stretch the field. The opening 40 minutes went by without either side registering a shot on target.
At 49′, the Braves committed a foul between the box and the touch line and the ensuing free kick gave Bellmont keeper Grayson Riehm his first chance at a save on the night.
Woodlan continued to grow into the match and the first real chance behind the Bellmont line came on 51′, when Graber took a shot that hit the crossbar.
Graber later made the difference in the game, crashing to the ground after shoulder-to-shoulder contact with a Bellmont defender in the 57th minute. The official closest to the play immediately signaled penalty and Graber took the kick from the spot himself, putting it past the fingertips of an outstretched Riehm.
Bellmont chased the game the rest of the way, but were unable to muster any real chances. They received an inspired 20 minutes of hustle from LaVine, who made several deep runs with the ball at his feet, but the team certainly showed the legs of a team that was playing for a second consecutive night.
The good news for the Bellmont Braves will be a clear schedule for an entire week. They continue to train away from Ogg Street and may not return to their training ground for the rest of the season, but they will believe they have a chance to win a postseason game against the Warriors Tuesday. Fans of the Braves will be able to listen to the game on WZBD, 92.7 FM.
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