Warrior boys move winning streak to 4 games

BAXTER -- At the beginning of the year the Brainerd Warriors soccer team couldn't buy a break, now it seems as though they're getting all of them.

Tuesday, in a Central Lakes Conference game against the Little Falls Flyers, Brainerd needed all the breaks to win 2-0 and move its winning streak to four games.

It wasn't pretty and a scoreless first half indicated that. Brainerd looked flat footed getting beat to the ball on numerous occasions. However, scoring opportunities were squandered by both teams.

Brainerd had four shots on goal in the first half while Little Falls had three. Even when prime scoring oppertunities presented themselves, the marjority of the shots flew over the cross bar.

"It started in the first 10 minutes when we couldn't capitalize on any chances," said Warrior goalie Kevin Sexton about the lack-luster play. "We had four or five shots that didn't go into the net and most of them should have.

"Then we started playing their game. We started booting the ball, we didn't pass, we didn't keep the ball on the ground, Nothing worked."

Little Falls did control the tempo of the game. Brainerd looked fatigued as the Flyers continually kept the offensive pressure on Brainerd in the first half. After beating Brainerd 2-0 Sept. 6 at home, Little Falls was looking for the season sweep.

"Our passing wasn't on and either was our trapping," said Flyers coach Julie Bell. "We weren't able to stop the ball close to us which led to too big of rebounds.

"We can play better, but we weren't playing our game."

Brainerd too had trouble scoring. The Warriors were the first to admit that, although they got a win, it was ugly.

"We should destroy these guys," said Sexton. "We should at least put up five goals in the first half. That's how we feel. We were lucky to come out of that (first) half tied."

In the second half, things finally started coming around. Jorgen Hartje cranked a shot on net and Mark Bublitz was at the right spot at the right time as he knocked a header in for the first goal.

"Now were enjoying the other side of the streak," said Warrior coach David Devine. "When you're on a roll you get a bounce or two. Certainly we could have tallied a few more goals than we did, but we're playing winning soccer so these kind of games go our way."

Brainerd scored again at the 72 minute mark when Justin Cervin snuck the ball past Flyer goalie Phil Weiss. Despite the two goals, Devine wasn't pleased with his offensive attack.

"We're still missing a killer instinct," said Devine. "We need to be driven to want to put the ball in the net. Just to run through the ball and finish it. We've been working on drills, getting it on net and seeing what happens.

"Our two goals were nothing spectacular other than, get the ball on net and see what happens."

Sexton finished with his second shutout of the season. He knocked away all five of the flyers shots.

Little Falls 0 0 -- 0

Brainerd 0 2 -- 2

Second half -- 1. B-Mark Bublitz (Jorgen Hartje) 56:12; 2. B-Justin Cervin (Bublitz) 72:18

Shots on goal (by halves) -- B 4 5 - 9; LF 3 2 -- 5

Goaltenders -- B-Kevin Sexton (5 saves); LF-Phil Wiess (7 saves)

Conference --B 3-4, LF 4-4. Overall -- B 4-6, LF 5-4. Next match -- Brainerd at St. Cloud Apollo 5 p.m. Thursday; Little Falls vs. Willmar 5 p.m. Thursday.