2007 Freshmen Reports

Friday 9/28/07 at Pendery
Freshmen polish off NCC 5-2, end the season at 9-2-0

As with the first game vs NCC, the Mustangs generated early offensive pressure on the NCC goal. This time, the Breds had their defense packed in around the 18, and the Mustang strikers had difficulty getting clean shots at close range. Although our accomplished passing effort was in full force, touches had to find their way through too many defenders to be effective and goal attempts came at longer range. Particularly stingy for NCC was fullback Evan Neises, showing up everywhere to deflect thru balls and shots from their intended targets. Adding pressure in our forward attack was Josh Beckerich in a mid-field role, weaving through defenders trying to make things happen. On the right side, Daniel Schultz was working hard to force play inside to the net. Just as frustration started to mount, a high cross from the right side was sent away by a NewCath defender, which David Braun collected and stepped into for a shot that deflected off the lunging NCC keeper for Brossart's first goal. The half ended with the Mustangs holding a 1-0 lead. A lot of effort, but little to show for it.

The suspense was ended starting at 2:00 minutes into the second half, when a shot from Braun was tapped away by NewCath, but finished off by an alert Ryan Enzweiler to make it 2-0 Brossart. Shortly thereafter, Nick Birkenhauer brought a ball out of our defensive zone, to fellow mid-fielder Braun who sent a high lob that Ryan Enzweiler settled. A centering pass attempt was chipped backward by an NCC defender that even the tall NCC keeper couldn't reach, until he was behind the goal line in the net. BBHS now lead 3-0. All the while, few NewCath shots were reaching Mustang goalie Corey Hartig. Then later, it was Kyle Dorrierre making one of his patented stops, and turning the ball around to Birkenhauer charging forward. A touch inside by Enzweiler resulted in a tap by Jared Schultz to notch our next goal, making it 4-0 Brossart. A Mustang goalie change allowed Hartig to get some "field time" up front and send a header forward against the NCC defense. But the Breds then went on the offensive and following a leaping save by Birkenhauer in net, NewCath scored on a high long ball, then on a short break-away to bring the score to 4-2. That just served to motivate the boys in green to put one more on the board, when Ben Luersen struck a high long shot over the NCC keeper for the final goal and the BBHS victory at 5-2.

A note of thanks to the freshmen parents, grand parents, siblings and fans in attendance for this game and all season long, providing much needed encouragement and braving the unforgiving mosquito swarms that infest Pendery Park.

Congratulations to coaches Tyler Tavel and Tyson Enzweiler on an outstanding season marked by excellent defense and unselfish team play from the Mustang Freshmen squad: Defenders Andrew Klear, Eric Ostendorf, Austin Trentman, Nate Hales, Josh Beckerich, David Schuler, Michael Zilliox, and Jared Schultz; Mid-fielders Ben Luersen, Kyle Dorrierre, Daniel Schultz, Bret Evans, David Braun, and Nick Birkenhauer; Forwards William Atchley, Dylan Dierig, Ryan Enzweiler, and Austin Kramer; and Goalie Corey Hartig.

Tyler Tavel's freshmen squad traveled south to take on Campbell County Tuesday night, in the first game of the night at the Camel's home field. Rooting the team on from the player's sideline was defensive standout David Schuler, hobbled by a severe knee injury in the Trinity game, joined by Austin Kramer, who has been unable to play in recent games due to injury as well. Stepping into the line-up to bolster the defense has been Jared Schultz, challenging the ball with constant pressure, and Eric Ostendorf, guarding the outside. Things went well early for the Mustangs as we grabbed the lead on two goals by Ryan Enzweiler, both coming down the right side. Play evened out from that point with possession battles waged at midfield, and both defenses turning back offensive rushes. The half ended with Brossart leading 2-0.

Play opened in the second half with the Mustangs holding their own, until about midway through the half, when Camel mid-fielder Colton Tanner rang the crossbar with a shot, that seemed to give Campbell County a lift. A short time later, a Camel player found daylight an fired a shot into the net, making the score 2-1. With threatening clouds in the distance, the Mustang back line of Hales and Beckerich took on the ensuing Camel storm, cleared balls from deep in our defensive zone, and gave the midfielders and strikers a chance to possess and run the clock. An excellent challenge put aside, the Mustangs held on for a quality win, 2-1. Next scheduled game Friday 9/28 vs. NCC at Pendery, the final Freshmen game of the 2007 season.

Saturday 9/22

BBHS vs. Louisville Trinity at Pendery

Shamrocks hand Freshmen their second defeat

This game started out as an up-tempo encounter, with a decided advantage to the Shamrocks in overall team speed. Despite being tested frequently, the Mustang defensive core took on the Trinity assault and turned away numerous attacks. Keeper Corey Hartig collected long rollers and shots on goal, and punted the ball back to mid-field, where play was intense. Still, we held our own and forged a few offensive runs, spreading the field and forcing Trinity's keeper to make multiple saves on shots directed on net. Just past the half's mid point, a Trinity offensive push kept a ball in the Mustang goal area, which was sent to the net for the game's first goal. A short time later, a strong lead pass resulted in a Trinity break away and the second score. A couple of late Mustang chances sailed wide and Brossart trailed at the half 2-0.

The second half was evenly played, but increasingly difficult to gain offensive advantage. It was an improbable Trinity kick, arched from the right corner, that somehow found the top left corner of the Brossart goal, that gave the Shamrocks their final score, sending the freshmen to their first regular season defeat, and an overall record of 7-2-0. Up next is Campbell County away, Tuesday, 4:30.

Freshmen Regional at Town & Country

Call this the one that got away. Not the outcome that anyone expected. After Friday night's thrashing of Covington Catholic, the freshmen again faced the Colonels in the Freshmen Regional on Saturday. The neutral site of Town & Country played the great equalizer, playing across the width of half the big field, prohibiting the masterful "spread" style of play that brought the Mustangs in as a 7 W, 0 L favorite in the tournament. A couple of early Brossart scoring chances missed wide, then high, off the launching pad that is the T&C playing surface. The Mustangs found themselves playing defense much of the first half as CovCath booted high, long balls that were tough to settle and control, limiting our vaunted ground attack to only limited offensive penetration. The Colonels scored first on a corner kick attempt that couldn't be cleared, making the score 1-0. Later in the half, a second goal rocked the Mustangs who trailed at the half 2-0.

It was only 4 minutes into the second half that our ball possession game materialized, and the Mustangs marched through the Colonel defense where Dylan Dierig dribbled in, and laid a pass off to Ryan Enzweiler for a quick score and a ray of hope. But the long ball returned and the quick turf carried balls out of bounds ,resulting in deep CovCath throw ins, that led to another score, making it 3-1 late in the game. A valiant effort, but unfortunate result, as the freshmen went down to their first defeat of the season, and fell out of the tournament.

Tournament update - Covington Catholic lost their next game 2-0 to eventual tournament champion Highlands.

Freshmen crush Covington Catholic 7-0

The freshmen green and white turned in a complete team effort to defeat the CovCath Colonels Friday at Pendery Park. The team was clicking on all cylinders from start to finish and outplayed the Colonels to run their season record to 7-0. Friday's effort again showcased a hearty defense led by Nate Hales playing with reckless abandon, well supported by Josh Beckerich clogging the middle, Andrew Klear bumping people off the ball, and Austin Trentman tangling with the CovCath forwards forcing them outside and to the corner. The game's first score came when Dylan Dierig chipped a soft pass to an unmarked Ryan Enzweiler, who capitalized with a blast past the keeper to go up 1-0. Meanwhile, goalie Corey Hartig fielded a few Colonel scoring attempts to stymie any thought of a comeback. Then, on a CovCath goal kick, headed forward by David Braun, Enzweiler found a hustling Bret Evans who beat the Colonel keeper for goal #2. There was no let up in the onslaught as Kyle Dorrierre, Ben Luersen, and Michael Zilliox defended outside runs and Nick Birkenhauer won the mid-field, creating multiple scoring chances for the front line. It was then that Dierig, taking a pass down to the right corner, fired a cross that the goalie mishandled, and Enzweiler poked it in, and the Mustangs led at the half, 3-0.

In the second half, Hartig held firm and snuffed out CovCath offensive threats, and at 10 minutes in, Ryan Enzweiler was fouled in the box, resulting in a PK that he calmly converted for our fourth score. Later it was Andrew Klear who found Dylan Dierig, who sent a shot over the keeper's head making it 5-0 Brossart. There was no let up in the defense and Jared Schultz broke with the ball down the right side, finding Dierig who made the Mustang's sixth deposit into the CovCath net. We weren't done yet, as Hartig was subbed to the sideline and Nick Birkenhauer stepped into the net as a first time goalkeeper. In the final minutes, Dierig sent another cross, where teammate Braun got a touch among two defenders, and freed the ball for Jared Schultz to notch the game's final goal and the Mustangs victory 7-0. Next game Freshman Regional Saturday 2:00 at Town and Country.

Frosh Return to Action, Dispose of the Bluebirds

After a two week layoff, the Mustang Freshmen took the field for a home encounter against an outmanned Highlands squad. Our guys were anxious to play, having spent the past two weeks as soccer fans supporting their futbol brethren, and plying the sidelines returning wayward balls to the field for the varsity. This one started unlike the past three games with the Bluebirds getting on the board first on a high arching shot for an early Highlands lead, 1 - nil. The Mustangs countered with three goals before the half ended, coming once from Ryan Enzweiler and two from Dylan Dierig. At the half, Brossart 3, Highlands 1.

The second half saw the defense stifle the Birds, with Ben Luersen, Kyle Dorriere and Eric Ostendorf owning the sidelines and getting the ball forward into scoring territory for deep runs by Will Atchley and Daniel Schultz. It was Brett Evans getting inside to beat the Highlands keeper for the fourth score, with strong work up front by Jared Schultz. Later Dylan Dierig got his third goal of the game for the "hat trick" with an assist from David Braun, off a pass from David Schuler. BBHS 5 - HHS 1. The passing game was on, going from defensive stops to offensive advances, and down the middle, David Braun found daylight and struck net for the sixth Brossart goal. Coach Tavel then took the opportunity to get goalie Corey Hartig out of the goal and into the offense, with Josh Beckerich standing in net, for a strong stretch run in which the pesky Bluebirds put up some shots that were denied with typical Beckerich authority. In attendance at the game was Brossart soccer alum (goalie) Jeff Schwegmann, proudly watching his soccer disciples put on a clinic (and calmly coaching a touch or two). A season long assist to Schwegs! Final, Brossart 6 - Highlands 1. Next game Tuesday 9/11, 5:30 away vs Scott

Friday 8/24 at Pendery Park

Mustangs keep the heat on NCC keeper, win 4-0

For the second straight game, the opponent's goalie was under frequent pressure, and despite numerous saves, the potent Mustang offense broke through for four goals. The game began in near 100 degree heat, but the Brossart defense didn't wilt, keeping the Newcath offense well away from goalie Corey Hartig. The NCC defense thwarted multiple corner kick attempts early in the game, and the keeper stood tall in the goal, facing shots from all angles, but it was a short goal kick on which Ryan Enzweiler capitalized to go one on one with the keeper, and notch the first goal at thirteen minutes into the game. Newcath escaped continued heat around their goal while the Brossart defensive crew kept play at a safe distance and the first half ended with Brossart leading 1 - 0.

Into the second half, again coming at the thirteen minute mark, Austin Kramer finished off a rebound from a Ryan Enzweiler shot, knocking in the second goal and providing some insurance for the Mustangs. The defense held their ground limiting the Breds to only one shot on goal through the entire game. Following a water break in the excessive heat, fresh subs Dylan Dierig and Ryan Enzweiler teamed for goals a minute apart to put the game in the win column. Final score BBHS 4, NCC 0. Next game 4:30 Friday Sept. 7 at Pendery vs Highlands.

Friday 8/17
Freshmen deny Villa; Win 6-0; move to 2 and 0.

Strong defense and unselfish play defined game 2 of the Freshmen season. Six different players scored in Friday's game at Villa. The defense started strong, enabling early scoring chances, and at ten minutes in, Dylan Dierig took a pass from Nick Birkenhauer and got a rebound off his own shot to notch the first goal. Nearing half time, Dierig found Ryan Enzweiler who finished for the game's second goal. The defense kept Villa from threatening and the Mustangs led 2-0 at the half. Contributing to the strong effort on the field were the team's four eighth grade players.

The second half saw continued domination by the Mustangs on defense, and good ball possession through midfield. An impressive move by Nick Birkenhauer directed a ball to David Braun, who found Ryan Enzweiler in position to score. Ryan instead dished off to Austin Kremer on the right side, who promptly netted the third goal. Not long after, Kramer set up fellow eighth grader Jared Schultz for a score. BBHS 4, Villa 0. Mustang keeper Corey Hartig's well timed slides stopped two Villa advances during the second half. Later in the half, deep in the Villa defensive zone, Josh Beckerich worked a pass through a crowd to find David Braun who sent one through the Villa keeper's legs for the game's fifth goal. Late in the game, the coaches rewarded the defenders with some playing time up front. Defenders turned strikers Josh Beckerich and Nathan Hales took advantage of a Villa sweeper's unfortunate whiff. On the breakaway, Beckerich gave way to Hales, who took control until the keeper charged out, resulting in a tap pass to Beckerich, who chipped the ball to the net for the game's final score. Mustangs 6, Villa 0. Next game Monday at Ryle.

Bronze Medal Game - Bluegrass Games JV Bracket

Mustang Freshmen squad 1 - Lexington Henry Clay 0

A tightly played game in the Bluegrass JV bracket between the Henry Clay JV team and the incoming Freshmen squad for the Mustangs. On a late second half thru-ball sent forward from Dylan Dierig, Ryan Enzweiler raced down the left side toward the goal and scored with about five minutes to go in the game. Escaping a corner kick attempt in which goalie Corey Hartig had to tip a ball above the cross-bar, the Freshmen held off Henry Clay to win Bronze. A total team effort in the July heat in Lexington.

Tournament record 2-2-0

BBHS 2, South Oldham 1

Lexington Catholic 9, BBHS 0

BBHS 1, Henry Clay 0