Braves escape upset-minded Carver

Bremen was in a jam. The top-seeded Braves trailed 16th-seeded Carver by a goal deep into the second half of their Class 2A regional semifinal in Park Forest.

Braves coach Steve Granat was, by admission, "pretty worried."

His team had generally controlled the play, but, except for a goal by Josh Techiera, wasn't able to beat Challengers goaltender Eric Avila.

Until, that is, a final set of sorties paid off. A pair of goals in the final 11 minutes brought Bremen a 3-2 victory and a berth in the regional final.

The Braves (16-3-2) meet the winner of today's Morris-Rich East match in Friday's regional final at Rich East.

Ruben Ortega's penalty-kick game-winner Monday, which whistled low to Avila's left, came with two minutes left. The Braves, backstopped by goalkeeper Mick Goulding, then had to sweat out seven minutes of stoppage time.

"We were in shock from the get-go," Granat said. "Carver came to play today. They were packing it in on us (in the defensive zone), and our kids, while they dominate the midfield, don't know how to get around that."

Staying patient paid off when Bremen's Gilberto Mendez scored the tying goal, a drive from the slot that dipped past Avila two minutes before the penalty was whistled and Ortega converted.

Clemente Chaidez and Juan Ramirez scored for Carver.