Team Reporter

Michael Butera, October 22, 2010 5:03 p.m.

Last night the Boys soccer tournament games across the State got serious.  It was a night filled with tough physical games and some profound upsets.  The North Olmsted Eagles had one of those tough physical games versus the Berea Braves.  It was a battle of two up and coming soccer teams which pitted two of the sports better coaches locked in a real nail biter.   The game started like a chessmatch.  Each team probing the other looking for a weak spot.  Each coach shuffling his players around to get the right mix on the field.  Finding that right mix could get the job done and an all important "stay in the tournament" win.  It would take the Eagles from North Olmsted  33 minutes and 47 seconds into the first half to find that right "mix" as senior midfielder, Luke Hatfield, would blast one into the upper right hand corner of the Berea goal from about 12 yards out.  It would be the only scoring of the night as both teams found the right defensive "mix" of players who battled and slugged it out the rest of the game leaving the final score, North Olmsted - 1 and Berea - 0.  It was sad that one of the teams had to end their season but as a spectator it was a beautiful game to watch.  Thanks to both squads for a great game of soccer.  Congratulations to the Berea Braves and Coach Trapp on their season (9-7-2).

North Olmsted will move on to face Westlake in the semi-final match on Monday night.  The winner will face the winner of the Avon Lake/Amherst semi-final for the district final on Thursday, 10/28.