DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
WOODBURN – There’s no doubt that the Bellmont Braves felt a bit disrespected when the final team rankings came out this week for the girls soccer season. While it did come in a shootout, the #9 Bellmont Braves already had a win over #8 Leo back in regular season play. The two teams were drawn together in the very first round of the 2A Woodlan sectional Tuesday.
That #8 ranking didn’t matter much when Oni Krueckeberg put the Braves ahead in the 80th minute for a stunning and wild victory, sending the Lions home for the season and sending themselves into the semifinals against Bishop Dwenger Wednesday night.
In a rivalry that has been fraught with tension for over a decade, the Bellmont Braves met Leo yet again in the postseason, but this time, unlike many previous meetings, the two teams were playing in the opening round of the sectional, not for a regional title.
The two teams fought fiercely in the first half with end-to-end play, but neither side was able to break through. It was a stark contrast to the game that had been played in September at Ruoff, when Leo scored early and Bellmont chased the game.
It wasn’t until the 60th minute that the scoreline was changed. The Braves were awarded a penalty kick for an infraction in the box and Krueckeberg, cool and collected as always (see gallery below), nailed it, putting the Braves within 20 minutes of a big victory.
Less than five minutes later, though, Andie Lorenc took a shot from distance that was struck perfectly, lofting over the head of Marianne Bleke, who kept out the other five shots on target from Leo in the contest. That made the score 1-1 and brought the Lions crowd back into the game.
As the clock ticked away, the Braves played with the confidence that, score or not score, they could finish the job, even if it meant going back to penalties.
With 80 seconds left in the game, Oni Krueckeberg won the team a corner kick. Identifying the clock and playing with confidence, Kaitlyn Barton allowed some time to run off before launching her perfectly placed kick and, just like her brother (Jack) had done an hour before in the Bellmont boys game, she found the forehead of a teammate (Krueckeberg) for a stunning set piece goal.
Krueckeberg’s header came with just 44.1 seconds remaining and the Braves had no issue seeing out the game for another memorable win.
The Braves will return to the same field Wednesday night to take on a Bishop Dwenger team that needed extra time to beat Concordia. The Braves and Saints played earlier in the season to a 2-2 draw. The match can be heard on WZBD, 92.7 FM with prematch coverage beginning at roughly 6:40 p.m.
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