by Jen Burhans
The Berlin boys soccer team traveled to Lake George, the 10th ranked team in the State, on Monday, October 27, for the Quarterfinals of the Class C Sectionals. It started out chilly and wet in Berlin but turned into a sunny warm day in Lake George. The players were happy to see that so many of their supporters were able and willing to come cheer them on.
Coach Schmich’s game plan was to dominate the midfield like they had against Middleburg, and the players looked confident that they could when they took the field for the start of the game. Berlin had practised in the wet on Sunday, trying to adjust to the much larger field they would play on and how they would defend against 3 strong players from L.G. The team looked ready to play and was not affected by the long ride they’d had or facing a much stronger team than they’d gone against all season. Coach Schmich felt confident they had done everything they could to get the win, now it was up to the players.
Berlin started off on the defensive right from the kickoff but held strong with each of the fullbacks and midfielders doing his job and covering L.G.’s two top scorers. A few minutes into the game a penalty was called on Berlin in the penalty box, and L.G. was awarded a penalty kick. Berlin’s goalie, Jackson Burhans, was able to make a diving save and then get the ball back, holding off a score and getting the ball downfield to Berlin’s offense. The much wider field helped Berlin’s defense hold off a strong L.G. offense, but the longer field length hurt the Berlin’s usually strong offensive drives up the sidelines. Keel Krumenacker, Ryan Willis and Matt Montero got worn down having to start their scoring sprints from deep in their own defensive half. After a few adjustments from the midfielders and strikers Berlin started to get into the groove and was able to start beating the L.G. fullbacks. The Mountaineers got off some shots on goal, but they were unable to hit the back of the net. Meanwhile the defense was taking a pounding. Only by all the players working together and covering for each other did they hold off a score by the persistent L.G. offense.
Halftime found the score tied at nil, and Lake George starting to get frustrated. Although most of the half was played in Berlin’s defensive half, Berlin looked unworried, and the Lake George sideline was wondering out loud what was going to happen if Berlin adjusted to the larger field and took it to their defense.
Coach Schmich had a few suggestions for his team in the halftime break, and Berlin players caught their breath before once again taking the field. This time they would be defending the wetter side and running uphill to score. Five minutes into the second half Berlin’s defense got caught flat across the goalbox, and the ball bounced around loose and rolled across the goal line for a L.G. score. Berlin found themselves once again behind and needing a score. Not unfamiliar with this position, they went back to work and held off a now energized opponent. Coach Schmich tried subbing some fresher players and different combinations but was unable to find the one that would get Berlin a goal.
Late in the game Berlin was once again charged with a penalty in the box, and the teams lined up for a PK. Burhans once again stopped the L.G. kicker, and Berlin came alive trying to get the ball upfield and around the L.G. defense.
With 10 minutes left Schmich switched goalies, hoping Burhans could get lucky again upfield. With play getting rougher as L.G. scrambled to hold their lead, Berlin was able to get the ball into the box several times, but L.G. got a few good bounces, and Berlin was unable to score. At the end of the 80 minutes Berlin went down 1-0 to Lake George.
Although the boys would prefer a win they “left all they had out on the field” as they say. Coach Schmich reminded them that they reached the higher level of play in this game that he had been telling them about and that he knew they could build on it for next year. There were many outstanding plays. The team should look back on the game and remember that overall they played the best they could have here.
The Lake George sideline felt this was one of their toughest games and that they got the lucky bounce today. It could have gone either way.
