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Friday, September 29, 2006
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Otters head off Warriors Brainerd has to settle for tie as 86th-minute header fails Sports Editor BAXTER - By a head.
That's how close the Brainerd Warrior boys' soccer team was to defeating the Fergus Falls Otters for the first time in program history Thursday.
Brainerd, which had not defeated the Otters in 16 previous contests, had a corner kick in the sixth minute of overtime. Warriors freshman Chris Nathan booted the ball toward the net where teammate Grant Gmeinder nearly scored on a diving header.
"I just couldn't quite get to it," Gmeinder said. "It still hit my head but it just glanced off and I missed wide."
Moments earlier Brainerd's Tyler Hanson drilled a shot from about 40 feet that forced Otters' keeper Bryce Barsness to make a difficult save.
"That was a shot we don't usually take as a team," Gmeinder said. "When Tyler took it I was like, That would be real nice if it went in,' but their goalie made a nice save."
Those were the Warriors' best opportunities on a nippy day at Southdale Field. The Otters outshot Brainerd 21-5 as the Warriors' chances either sailed wide or over the net.
"That's tough," Gmeinder said. "You like to put them on net and at least make the keeper make a save."
Gmeinder buried the game's first goal at 35:02, assisted by Hanson, when he swiped the ball from two defenders and beat Barsness in the right corner.
"Somebody passed the ball to Tyler," Gmeinder said. "I just sprinted toward the goal and he made a great pass to me. I touched it past the defender, the goalie came out and I just chipped it over the top of him."
The Otters' Wade Underwood tied the score with 11 seconds left in the half when he beat Brainerd keeper Brian Sexton from a sharp angle on the short side.
Other than that the Otters' best chance may have occurred in the final minute of regulation when Sexton dove to his left to make a save.
Otherwise, it was all Warriors, they just couldn't shoot on net.
In the 56th minute, Gmeinder hit Hanson with a pass but he kicked it over the cage.
About 20 minutes later defender Jake Beckerleg, on a free kick, passed to Gmeinder whose shot slammed off the side post.
"We had some real good opportunities and the guys think they should have won," Warriors coach Cahil Collins said. "Giving up a goal with 11 seconds left in the half was tough, but we did score the winning goal with 13 seconds left against Tech so it goes both ways."
Fergus Falls 1 0 0 - 1
Brainerd 1 0 0 - 1
First half: Brd-Grant Gmeinder (Tyler Hanson) 35:02; FF-Wade Underwood, 39:49
Second half: No scoring
Overtime: No scoring
Shots on goal: FF ?? Brd ??
Goalkeepers: FF-Bryce Barsness (? saves); Brd-Brian Sexton (?? saves)
Mike Bialka can be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
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