As inspirational talks go, this one doesn’t rate as a classic. But it was effective nonetheless.
With his team trailing visiting and defending Class 3A state champion Bowie 1-0 at halftime, Broadneck boys soccer coach Sean Tettemer offered some simple, yet pointed, instructions to his players.
Score some goals.
“I told them, ‘I thought we were playing well. Let’s keep it up,’” Tettemer said. “In the second half, we changed our formation and added an attacking player. We took our center back and put him at forward. We went with four midfielders.”
It resulted in more offensive chances and the Bruins (11-4) dominating play.
More importantly, Broadneck rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Bulldogs (9-3-1) in a Class 4A region semifinal by getting goals from seniors Patrick Robillard and Ethan Colon in the last five minutes.
Broadneck moves on to play Leonardtown of St. Mary’s County in the regional championship game.
“We knew it was win or go home,” Robillard said. “We had to leave it all on the field and that’s what we did. We worked as hard as we could to get the goals.”
Robillard scored the game-winner in the final minute. Sophomore TJ Remson started the sequence with a corner kick into the box and the ball deflected off of Colon and to Robillard.
Robillard, a forward, then headed to the lower last corner past goalie Carlos Monzon, who finished with six saves.
“It meant the world to me, scoring that goal, because all I wanted was for my team to succeed,” Robillard said. “There was no better feeling to rally as a team and finish them.”
Broadneck — which also beat Bowie, 2-1, in double-overtime in September — came out in the second half with intensity after a lackluster first half.
“It’s a much-deserved win for them,” Bowie coach Frantz Deetjen said. “Broadneck really played great in the second half to come back. They threw numbers of players forward at key locations and made sure the ball got there. That’s what gave them prime scoring opportunities.”
Broadneck pressured Bowie right away in the second half. The Bruins had five shots in the first 10 minutes.
Monzon, a junior, did his best to keep his team’s lead. He saved Robillard’s shot to the left corner with 33:12 remaining, and 32 seconds later, Monzon stopped Wilson Banwell’s point-blank shot.
The Bruins continued to pressure Bowie in the second half with a couple of shots, corner kicks and throw-ins.
The first half was a different story as the Bulldogs had the better part of the play.
Bowie went ahead 1-0 with 12:20 left when Jan Hernandez booted a ball to the right corner of the goal past Bruin senior keeper Matt Tettemer.
Broadneck’s defense of Luke Schroll, Brady Miller, Sam Petz, Colon and Axel Cartagena-Quillen did their part to help keep Bowie off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
“Once we were able to shake the nerves, I guess you call it,” Tettemer said, “we were able to play much better in the second half.”
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here