Draw not ideal for Brandon, Holly

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ORTONVILLE — A tie at this point of the season is worse than kissing your sister.

For Holly and Ortonville Brandon, Monday’s 1-1 tie sealed the fate of one in the final Flint Metro League standings and dampened the other’s fleeting hopes of a share of the FML boys soccer conference title.

The draw dropped Brandon into second place and Holly into third-place in the nine-school conference. A tie removed Holly from the title chase all together, while Brandon needs a little help from Linden in order to gain a piece of the pie.

“It’s out of our hands,” admitted Brandon coach Phil Kimmel. “We needed to win this game to secure at least a share of the league championship. Now, we need help from Linden.”

All eyes will be on Linden to pull out a draw or win Tuesday against visiting Division 2 fourth-ranked Lapeer East, which has still not suffered a defeat inside the league or in non-league competition. The Eagles are 5-0-2 in league play and 15-0-5 overall.

Linden hosts Lapeer East Tuesday in a game that will decide the3 final pecking order.

Holly, which captured its first league crown in 2010, finishes the FML season with a 4-1-3 record and stands 7-2-5 overall. The Bronchos will own third place unless Linden can close out with a pair of league wins this week.

Brandon broke the stalemate midway the first half when Cameron Craig set up Matthew Nelson with a short-range shot in the middle of the box and Nelson buried his opportunity.

Holly finally netted the equalizer in the 60^th minute, when Sam Caldwell blasted in a free kick from 25 yards out.

MANEUVERING THROUGH SPACE: Ortonville Brandon senior midfielder Cameron Craig brings the ball up field during a recent game. Craig the Blackhawks tied Holly Monday in a pivotal Flint Metro League game. File Photo | Dan Stickradt

Both teams had opportunities to pull into the lead down the stretch, but Holly goalkeeper Ryan St. John and Brandon netminder Ryan King were up to the task in keeping the opposing offenses at bay the rest of the way.

St. John made four saves for Holly and King had four stops for Brandon. The Blackhawks outshot Holly 12-10, including 5-4 with shots directly on frame.

“I thought we had a couple of really good chances late and so did holly,” offered Kimmel.”Both goalies played well. We gave a good effort, but we really needed a win. Now, we just have to root for Linden to beat (Lapeer) East.”

Brandon will visit Flushing Wednesday and White Lake Lakeland Thursday to wrap up the regular season. The Blackhawks will face Auburn Hills Avondale Monday in a D-2 district opener.

Holly will tangle with Clarkston on Wednesday before facing Bloomfield Hills Lahser in a D-2 district quarterfinal Monday.

COVER UP: Holly's Ryan St. John smothers the ball in the penalty box to aid Holly's 1-1 draw Monday with Ortonville Brandon. File Photo | Dan Stickradt

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Tags: featured, Flint Metro League Boys Soccer, high school boys soccer, Holly Boys Soccer, Ortonville Brandon Boys Soccer, Prep Boys Soccer, soccer

Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Holly, Ortonville Brandon, Prep Wraps