BHS wins conference title

BAXTER - A regular season of firsts culminated with another milestone Tuesday.

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The Brainerd Warrior boys' soccer team captured the first Central Lakes Conference championship in program history Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over the Sartell Sabres at gusty Southdale Field.

Brainerd finished with 9.5 conference points and runner-up St. Cloud Tech had 9.0. Tech ended the regular season Tuesday with a 1-0 over Fergus Falls.

"I can't be prouder of the boys," said Warriors coach Cahil Collins, who was named Section 8-2A coach of the year. "They're playing great soccer, they're jelling as a team. Their passes today were brilliant. They were hustling, getting to the ball and once they got to the ball they were controlling it. You couldn't ask more from a team."

Senior Grant Gmeinder, who scored the Warriors' second goal Tuesday, said Brainerd wasn't sure a conference title was a possibility.

Warriors forward Grant Gmeinder (10) moved past a Sartell defender Tuesday in Baxter. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist

"This was kind of our goal," he said, "but it wasn't necessarily at the beginning of the year. A few games into it we realized we had a shot at this.

"We started out strong. We haven't been playing great lately but it feels good to get this win and get the conference, our first one ever."

Other milestones this season included not losing to Fergus Falls (the teams tied twice after the Otters had won or tied the previous 16 games between the schools), earning a Section 8-2A home game for the first time, being awarded the highest section seed (No. 2) in program history and winning 10 regular-season games.

"It's been kind of a rollercoaster ride," Collins said. "We started out really strong. The last few games we were kind of flat. Today the boys stepped up right from the start. We controlled the whole game. (Sartell wasn't) in it. That's a real good step forward for our section game.

"We're really excited about (the section home game). Our guys are psyched up. They expect great things from our team."

So does Gmeinder, who was a sophomore when Brainerd won two games and a junior when the Warriors forfeited their first 12 games for use of an ineligible foreign exchange player.

Brainerd High School boys' soccer coach Cahil Collins talked with Warrior players at halftime Tuesday. Collins has been named Section 8-2A coach of the year. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist

"To go through that and then have this year where we're first in the conference, and second in the section, is a really big swing," Gmeinder said. "We've never had this kind of success before."

On Tuesday, the Warriors' success started 2:04 into the contest when Andy Bartel blasted a direct free kick past Sartell keeper Nathan Sahli.

With 12 seconds left in the half, Gmeinder scored the final goal. Tyler Hanson bolted down the far side and ripped a shot that Sahli stopped. The rebound rolled to Gmeinder who buried it in the back of the net.

"Tyler took a great shot," Gmeinder said, "and the keeper made a nice save. It was sitting there waiting for me, and I just put it away."

Along with the conference title.

Warriors 2, Sartell 0

The key: Andy Bartel and Grant Gmeinder scored as Brainerd won its first Central Lakes Conference title

Conference: Brd finishes 7-3-3, Sar 4-7-3

Overall: Brd 10-3-3, Sar 7-8-3

Next: No. 7 Moorhead vs. No. 2 Brainerd at noon Saturday at Baxter in Section 8-2A quarterfinals

Sartell 0 0 - 0

Brainerd 2 0 - 2

First half: Brd-Andy Bartel, 2:04; Brd-Grant Gmeinder (Tyler Hanson) 39:48

Second half: No scoring

Shots on goal: Brd 8 6 -14, Sar 3 3-6

Goalkeepers: Brd, Brian Sexton (6 saves), Sar, Nathan Sahli (12 saves).

Mike Bialka can be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.