Bemidji remains unbeaten after stopping Warriors
BRAINERD – The season-long unbeaten streak stretched to 10 games Saturday as the Bemidji boys soccer team improved to 9-0-1 with a 2-0 victory at Brainerd.
Isak Sommer scored seven minutes into the action and Alex Schussman added an insurance tally 32 minutes in to pace the offense.
Connor McNallan had a quiet day in the Lumberjacks net. The senior made five saves but none of Brainerd’s shots tested him.
“The guys played a strong game,” said BHS coach Rick Toward. “It looked much like the Hibbing game (another 2-0 Bemidji win) in that Brainerd went with the one-touch clearing attempt to try and stop us. But offensively Brainerd couldn’t do anything.
“We had great play from our midfielders, Isak Sommer, Austin Kovach, Joel Johannsen and Ryan Greendahl. All of them had terrific games and controlled the play.”
Sommer’s tally was set up by Schussman who dribbled in on the left side. When he reached the 18-yard spot Schussman delivered a sideways pass to Sommer who tipped it to himself around the lone defender. Once in the clear Sommer didn’t miss as his shot cleanly beat Warrior keeper Brandon Hedlund.
Late in the half Riley Brooks controlled play at midfield and spotted Schussman streaking down the sideline. Brooks hit Schussman with a perfect pass and Schussman did the rest, beating Hedlund from 16 yards out.
“That play was a pass reacting to a run instead of a runner reacting to a passer,” Toward said. “On Friday we watched film on doing just that and Riley and Alex worked the play to perfection.”
Bemidji continues its five-game road swing Tuesday at Moorhead.
“In terms of our level of play, Saturday’s game was a nice performance,” Toward said. “Tuesday we go to Moorhead to play against a very physical team but if we play like we did Saturday, we’ll do just fine.”
Bemidji 2 0 - 2
Brainerd 0 0 - 0
First Half
Bem-Sommer (Schussman). 7:00
Bem-Schussman (Brooks). 31:58
Second Half
No scoring
Saves
McNallen (Bem) 3 2 - 5
Hedlund (Bra) 3 2 - 5
