Bremen shuts down Hilltoppers

Joliet Catholic's Kyle Tully and Bremen's Alexander Estrada battle for the ball.
(John Patsch/Herald News)

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Bremen looked like a world-beating soccer team on Tuesday. For a half.

That the Braves forged a 2-0 lead on Joliet Catholic in the first 40 minutes, and made that score stand up as the final in their Class 2A sectional semifinal at Lemont, was the good news to Bremen coach Steve Granat.

The question that will vex Granat until Saturday morning's final against Lemont, a 1-0 winner over Illiana Christian in the nightcap, is this: Which Bremen team will show up, the disciplined crew that played solid two-way soccer in the first half en route to its 18th victory of the season, or the one that allowed the Hilltoppers a collection of chances they couldn't finish in the second half?

"I won't know that until the first 30 seconds," Granat said. "They're senior-dominated, they're prepared, and (they're) as motivated as any team can be."

Plus, they have Josh Techiera, whose 36th goal of the season brought the Braves an insurmountable lead. His goal, created by beating a defender one-on-one 31:53 into the first half, made it 2-0.

The Braves (18-3-2) had opened the scoring on Ruben Ortega's 30-yard rocket past Hilltoppers goalkeeper Mike Williams 10:41 into the game. But after the goals came the questions.

"Up 2-0, they still seemed to be panicking a little bit," Granat said of his side. "They're not satisfied with two goals. They want to keep scoring and forget about the defensive end at times.

"The first half went really well. Josh willed that second one in."

Bremen will meet a defensive-oriented club in Lemont, which is seeking its third straight supersectional berth. The Indians (17-7-1) got their only goal on Kyle Spoo's low 15-yarder 13:37 into the first half, and while coach Rich Prangen rued the inability to convert other chances, goalkeeper Jonathan Remiasz was flawless in turning back Illiana Christian (19-5).

The last time Bremen and Lemont played, the Braves scored a 3-1 victory.

"I think that's an anomaly," Granat said. "Defensively, coach Prangen's teams are solid, and Kyle Spoo is close to being an All-State player."

Based on Tuesday's matches, Prangen saw Bremen's better finishing on offense as the fundamental difference between the two teams.

"They were much more dangerous finishing than we were, and I have to give them the advantage," Prangen said.

Added Spoo, "We need to be sharper."