Bell’s goal lifts Brewer by Nokomis Witches advance in OT

BREWER – It didn’t surprise anyone at the Pendleton Street field that Thursday’s Class A Northeast division preliminary went into overtime – or that the winning score was 2-1.

The No. 8 Brewer and No. 9 Nokomis of Newport boys soccer teams played twice during the regular Class A season, with the Witches emerging with a 2-1 win each time. Jon Bell helped Brewer do it again Thursday, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime and boosting Brewer to a berth in the regional quarterfinals.

The Witches, now 7-7-1, will head to Waterville Saturday for a game against the No. 1 Panthers.

Regardless of what happens against the defending state champions, Brewer is having its most successful season in several years. Thursday’s playoff win was the Witches’ first in four years.

“We’re just gonna go down there and play as hard as we can, give it all we have,” said Brewer’s Ben Savage, a senior defender.

Bell scored his goal with four minutes, three seconds left in the first overtime period (a playoff overtime is made up of four 10-minute, sudden-death periods).

Bell headed in a pass from Brecht Merrill. Nokomis goalie Eric Gardner came out of the goal to defend the shot but the ball sailed over his head, bounced and rolled into the net.

The header was one of Brewer’s best chances all game. The Witches outshot the Warriors 18-10 but were frustrated with their inability to finish. Speedy forward Will Prescott broke loose from the Nokomis defense and got off shots three times but was unable to score.

“Finishing has been a hard thing all year and we just needed to put our chances away,” Bell said. “We did a couple of times and we got the win.”

Nokomis had the chances early and held on to a 1-0 lead for more than 70 minutes, until Brewer’s Joe Caron booted in a straight shot past Gardner, who came out after the ball. Zach Bouzan-Kaloustian assisted on the goal, which tied the game with 8:03 left.

“We saw [Gardner] running out after the ball almost every time so we tried to hit it early,” said Bell.

Matt Fraser scored the early goal for the Warriors on an assist from Justin Veazie.

Nokomis, which finishes its season with a 1-13-1 record, was without starting goalie Mike Jacques (personal reasons) and one of its top scorers, Justin Paradis, who sat out because of a red card from a previous game. Veazie, Fraser and Ryan McLellan picked up the offensive slack.

Nokomis coach Bill Freundenberger was pleased with how his team well his team marked midfielder Bouzan-Kaloustian, one of Brewer’s top players.

“For the most part we played well,” he said. “What this came down to was who made the most of their opportunities and who made the fewest mistakes. That’s what I told my guys.”

Gardner made nine saves. Brewer goalie Michael King made six saves.