LAKEVILLE —
Be patient that was the message first-year Bethany Christian High School boys soccer coach Mark Yoder kept stressing to his team during the first half of a regional semifinal Thursday night at Newton Park.
The Bruins got the message by scoring three goals after a scoreless first half in a 3-0 win over the Wheeler Bearcats.
“What I meant by being patient was working the ball,” the coach said. “Possession of the ball is Bethany’s game. We did a better job of that in the second half.”
In the evening’s first game, the Michigan City Marquette Blazers defeated the Boone Grove Wolves 2-1.
Bethany (16-5) faces Marquette (16-3) in the championship Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Bruins are the defending regional champion.
“I’ve been in the program for five years, but it’s still great to see all the work put in the seniors come to fruition,” Yoder said.
The seniors did their job, but it was a sophomore — Nate Nussbaum — that got the ball rolling by being the first Bruin to find the net. He did so at 35:15 of the second half on a long and high shot that was just out of the reach of the Wheeler goalie.
“It’s a spark anytime that first goal goes in,”Yoder said. “There is a lot of emotion in the tournament. That first goal kind of started the run. You have to give Wheeler a lot of credit. There kids play hard to the end.”
Bethany senior Andrew snyder said, “We struggled early on to get the ball on frame so it felt great when the first goal went in.
“Nussbaum had such a strong leg. He’s a great player. He helps us from midfield and up. He has such a strong player. He is fun to watch.”
The second goal was credited to senior Caleb Morris on a deflection of a free kick by Snyder with 29:25 left to play. Some thought Snyder’s free kick had went in but the Bethany coach credited Morris with the goal.
“It’s a goal for the team. That is all that matters,” Snyder said.
The final goal was by senior Josh Stoltzfus when he rebounded his own shot with 11:06 remaining.
Bethany sent in substitutes at will in the first which may have had a hand in wearing down the Bearcats.
“We talked at halftime about moving the ball around,” Yoder said. “Wheeler didn’t use many subs so if we moved the ball around it made ti harder for them to chase.”
The Bruins had a 15-6 advantage in shots on gaol.
“(Senior) Isaac Schertz is our sweeper,” Yoder said. “He is the one that keeps us organized on defense. (Junior) Jesse Loewen, (junior) Joseph Mumaw and (freshman) Clifton Miller are other keys back there.,”
Snyder added, “One of the things we have been working on defense is staying on guys so they can’t turn. When they can’t turn it harder to play the ball up.”
Wheeler had an 8-5 edge in corner kicks.
Sophomore Trent Yoder made four keeper saves for the Bruins in recording his ninth shutout of the season.
That ties him with Seth Kauffman for the single-season record.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Bethany Christian boys soccer coach Mark Yoder makes a point to his team at halftime of the Bruins’ 3-0 win over Wheeler in a Class A LaVille Regional semifinal contest Thursday nigh GREG KEIM | THE GOSHEN NEWS
BOYS PREP SOCCER: On to the finals
- Sports
-
-
NHL PLAYOFFS WEB EXTRA: Rejuvenated Blackhawks tie series 2-2 with OT win
The Chicago Blackhawks shifted from flat to frenzied, then tied the Stanley Cup finals with a hard-fought overtime win over the Boston Bruins in a free-flowing Game 4.
-
COLLEGE BASEBALL WEB EXTRA: Oregon St. knocks Indiana out of CWS with 1-0 win
Aaron Slegers was really good. Unfortunately for Indiana, Matt Boyd was great.
-
NHL PLAYOFFS: Surprise Hossa scratch part of NHL injury culture
Marian Hossa is one of the Chicago Blackhawks’ top scorers, with three game-winning goals already this postseason.
-
LOCAL SPORTS SPOTLIGHT: Raider lacrosse
Alex Eash hadn’t been involved in sports since he was seven years old.
-
COLLEGE BASEBALL: CWS newcomer Indiana loses to Mississippi St
Indiana coach Tracy Smith says he won't waste any time lamenting how close Sam Travis' ninth-inning fly ball came to leaving the ballpark. Or how close Mississippi State closer Jonathan Holder came to throwing the ball away and allowing the tying run to score.
-
GOLF: Rose wins US Open, more heartache for Mickelson
Justin Rose could see all the pieces coming together in this U.S. Open.
-
THE SKINNY: A weird spring is a wrap
GOSHEN - With the coming and going of last week’s IHSAA state boys golf tournament — which, by the way had local representation in Northridge’s Will Erekson — the book has been closed on another year of sports in our area.
-
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES WEB EXTRA: DeNato pitches Indiana to 2-0 win over Louisville
Joey DeNato dispelled the notion that College World Series newcomer Indiana is all about offense.
-
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES: It’s all about baseball in Hoosier State for now
The calendar says it’s June, and here are Indiana and Louisville playing for a national championship.
-
NHL PLAYOFFS: Depth paying off for Chicago
Much as they would love to get big contributions from Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the Chicago Blackhawks have shown they can win even when their biggest stars aren’t lighting up the scoreboard.
- More Sports Headlines
-
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
