Boys Soccer: Hot Bremen edges Eisenhower
Updated: September 20, 2012 9:31PM
It’s been quite a six-day stretch for Bremen.
After knocking off then-unbeaten Andrew on Saturday and handling Reavis with surprising ease in a 4-0 win Tuesday, about the only thing that could make things better for the Braves was exorcising some demons against their rivals from Eisenhower.
They did that Thursday as Erik Avalos scored and the Bremen defense withstood the Cardinals’ late charge to hold on for a 1-0 win in a South Suburban crossover in Midlothian.
“I’m a senior, and this is the first time we’ve beaten Eisenhower in my four years,” Avalos said. “It’s exciting.”
With the defenses controlling play early, it was Avalos who nearly single-handedly sparked the offense for the Braves (8-3, 5-1). He went around three defenders midway through the half but had his shot stopped on a dive by Gustavo Flores (four saves).
Ten minutes later, Avalos again blew by a defender and found himself in alone on Flores, this team beating the goalkeeper with a low shot for a 1-0 lead with 8:32 left in the half.
“The last two weeks have been incredible for Erik,” Bremen coach Steve Granat said. “Our kids come to play every night.”
The Cardinals (8-5, 3-2) nearly had the equalizer early in the second half when Jordy Padilla found Alfredo Cervantes, whose shot was past Erik West (three saves) but swept off the goal line by Fernando Lorenzo.
Eisenhower spent most of the final 20 minutes on the attack but could not put one away. Padilla had a header saved by West and put a shot just above the crossbar with 28 seconds to go.
“It was a hard battle,” Eisenhower coach Iran Rodriguez said. “When you face a quick forward like (Avalos), it’s tough. It bit us just once but that was enough.”
With Lorenzo, Jesus Guzman, Jeremy Green, Ramon Nuci and Eddie Prado leading the way in front of West, Bremen posted its eight shutout.
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