Bruin boys varsity soccer returned a favor to an old friend Tuesday afternoon, hosting the North Valley Knights, the only team the Bruins have lost to earlier in the first half of the season, who rolled into Brookings undefeated with a 6-1-0 record, including a 3-0 win over the Bruins in Grants Pass just two weeks ago.
In the first half of play, both teams worked in the middle of the field to establish ball control as well as time of possession. Fundamentals became very important as every play and possession was challenged defensively.
However, late in the first half the Knights established possession in the Bruin defensive end of the field, putting relentless pressure on the Bruin defense that held its own, pushing attacks and limited shooting opportunities to the outside and counter attacking offensively up the sidelines on turnovers.
North Valley created more opportunities in front of the goal in the first half, but the offensive opportunities created by the Bruin offense were quality shots on goal, leaving both teams tied 0-0 at the half.
Constant pressure by the Knights continued with the opening whistle of the second half, forcing most of the game in the Bruin third of the field in front of the Brookings-Harbor goal. But again, the battle was in the center of the mid-field, as both teams looked to break the defensive trap with a fast break opportunity.
With the center of the field congested with players and defended well, the Bruins offense consistently pushed the ball to the corners in attempts to take advantage of the Bruins speed and create one on one opportunities for its forwards. This would pay off late in the second half of play when sophomore Neric Garcia, #7, gained control of a fast break pass just outside the top of left side of penalty box, and drove to the Knights goal before being taken down in the box, resulting in a Bruin penalty kick that Garcia would bury in the back of the net with just over 5:00 minutes left to play.
The Bruins would hold on to take the win after several desperate attempts to even the score as time ran out in the second half of play, now being the only blemish on each teams record as the second half of the 2023 season moves on.
The now 6-1 Bruin boys soccer team will be in Grants Pass Thursday, hosting the Lakeview Honkers with a 2:00pm kick-off.
