Warriors, Eagles play to tie

BAXTER - Brainerd Warriors senior captain Brianna Olson summed up Thursday's 1-1 Central Lakes Conference tie with St. Cloud Apollo best.

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"We're a little disappointed right now because we know that we can beat this team," said Olson. "We know that they got beat by (St. Cloud) Tech and Tech is usually right with us. With that, we know we're going to have a really big challenge ahead of us. I think that is the most disappointing thing.

"In our book, there is a good tie and a bad tie and this wasn't a good tie."

Tori Saxum (16) of Brainerd kicks the ball while Apollo's Kayla Bartels tried to catch up Thursday during the Warriors' home opener at Southdale Field in Baxter.

Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey

Nor was it a good showing as Brainerd struggled with its passing. Despite outshooting Apollo 16-15, Brainerd's offense struggled to create good scoring opportunities. Part of it was Apollo's quick and athletic midfielders. The other part was Brainerd's inexperienced midfield, which looked uncertain at times.

When the passing was there, the results were, too.

Alese Waters received a pass from junior Emily Dumbeck and then attacked the right side of the Apollo goal. Once near the end line Waters sent a crossing pass to Becca Gervais, who punctuated the play with a goal.

"Alese has been doing that almost every single game," said Warrior head coach Sara Rojas. "She comes back around down the goal line and cutting it back. We finally connected with that. That was good to see. She's been working on that in different games and in practice. It was spot on."

Apollo tied the game near the 43rd minute from the foot of a wide open Cathy Schmitt.

"I know I slipped a little bit," said Olson. "I was going for the slide, but I slid too much."

Brainerd had quality chances to break the tie, but missed on each attempt. At 77:13, Gervais broke past the Apollo defense for an open look, but the shot sailed over the crossbar.

On a free kick by Emily Beltran near the box, the ball bounced around in front of the net, but no Warrior could get a foot on it.

"The opportunities were coming," said Rojas. "I think they picked up their intensity in the final minutes. We had a lot of nice through balls, but your forwards can only do that so many times. You could see in the end it was becoming futile because they can only sprint up and down the field so many times.

"They did find through balls and that can get you a goal in the final moments, but that's not the way to play a game. I like it when they move the ball around. There were times when that happened and I liked seeing it."

But it wasn't enough for Rojas who, like the players, was disappointed in the result and in some cases the effort of her team.

"If you're on the field I expect you to be there every single time," said the second-year coach. "We do have some new-to-varsity players and I think that has a lot to do with it. With this type of pressure I think it's a new experience for them.

"But I need to find someone who is going to challenge that position and play that. I think we need some competition for who plays. If you want to sit, feel free, but who wants to play?"

Apollo 0 1 0 - 1

Brainerd 1 0 0 - 1

First half: Brd-Becca Gervais (Alese Waters) 17:38

Second half: SCA-Cathy Schmitt (Katherine Rogosheske) 42:59

Shots on goal: Brd 17, SCA 16

Goalkeepers: Brd-Cami Andersen (15 saves); SCA-Elizabeth Lowery (16 saves)

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.