Brentwood goalkeeper Alex Blanton makes a save, while L.C. McNiel (9) and Alec Leaman (12) defend. On the attack are Ravenwood's Eric Wurster (11) and Chad O'Shields (19).

By PIERCE GREENBERG
For Brentwood Home Page
The soccer edition of the Battle of the Woods had all the makings of a great game. Both teams took the field with undefeated records — and a District 11-AAA title was on the line.

But Brentwood seniors Daniel McLaughlin, Kenny Ra and Alex Blanton ensured there would be no such epic. Ra and McLaughlin connected twice on goals, while Blanton recorded 13 saves in a 5-0 win over Ravenwood.

Brentwood's Kenny Ra manuevers against Ravenwood's Patrick Brooks (10) and Sam Stevenson (5). (Photos by Peg Fredi)

“They are excellent players,” Brentwood coach Mike Purcell said. “Blanton and McLaughlin are captains and they aren’t the most vocal guys out there, but they lead by example.”

Less than 10 minutes into the game, Ra dropped a lead pass to McLaughlin, who fired in an opposite-post goal to give Brentwood a 1-0 lead. A few minutes later, Ra found McLaughlin again for another goal.

“Kenny’s pass to D-Mac on that second goal was a beautiful pass. He played well tonight,” Purcell said. “And there’s nobody that plays harder than Dan McLaughlin.”

Ra scored a goal of his own on a free kick early in the second half. A goal by Will Jones and a penalty kick by Matthew Homonnay rounded out the scoring for Brentwood.

Ravenwood lost a key element of their attack when University of Memphis signee Will Linder went down with a leg injury only five minutes into the game.

“It’s hard to lose a player of that caliber and have that not affect that team,” Purcell said.

But Ravenwood head coach Ken White dispelled that notion.

“We’re not a one-man show, we’re a team,” White said. “Losing him was tough, but yet again, others need to step up.”

Even with Brentwood’s win, the 11-AAA regular season district title is still up for grabs. If the Bruins beat Franklin tonight, they’ll earn the No. 1 seed. If not, it will go to Ravenwood.

Brentwood's Ken Harasawa (14) works the ball against RHS.	Ravenwood's Sam Stevenson battles Kenny Ra, Patrick Brooks (10) and Matt England (5)
Alec Leaman (12) of BHS protects the ball from Sean Fitzpactrick (21) of RHS.	Raptors goalkeeper Mike Giangreco boots the ball against the Bruins.
BHS keeper Alex Blanton, an SMU signee, goes up high as Matt England (5) looks on.