Sports
CBC Edges Out De Smet In Tight Soccer Match
The Spartans were unable to take advantage of chances against the Cadets Thursday night.
FENTON—In a soccer contest described as “not pretty” by CBC coach Terry Michler, and “very entertaining” by De Smet coach Greg Vitello, CBC defeated 2-1 on Thursday night at the A-B Soccer Park.
The game was a rematch of the 2010 Class 3 District 3 title game, which CBC won. Thursday's game was the second contest for each squad in the CBC Tournament, and an early season test for the traditional soccer powers.
De Smet had possession for most of the first 15 minutes, until CBC junior Julius Adewumni scored from up close, which seemed to turn the tide.
“We were at De Smet’s mercy most of the night,” CBC coach Terry Michler said.
The Cadets made life difficult for themselves throughout the game, being shown several yellow cards, and fouling the Spartans multiple times throughout the match. But De Smet could only take advantage for a goal once in those extra chances.
“That’s what you’ve got to be able to do,” De Smet coach Greg Vitello said.
“You’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net. And that was our biggest drawback tonight,” Vitello said. “We couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net, and they did, so the credit goes to CBC tonight.”
Michler said fouls are part of the territory when soccer is played with intensity.
“That happens in a game like this because the intensity is so high,” he said. “That happens on both sides of it.”
De Smet senior midfielder Lou Berra found the net in the second half following a restart to tie the game at 1 with 16:41 into the second half.
“We were just working on it the whole game, and we finally got that break with the free kick and I just tucked it away,” Berra said. “It’s about as simple as it comes. That was the one.”
Six minutes later, CBC senior midfielder Justin Bilyeu was in the right place at the right time to put a header in to put the Cadets up 2-1 for good.
“We’ve been practicing all week, head-ball plays, and I just happened to be back post and finish it,” Bilyeu said.
“It wasn’t that great of a soccer game but we fought hard and the intensity was there,” he said. “We did what we needed to do, so we got the win.”