Ismail, Halaweish score to lift Bobcats over Tigers 2-1

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BROOKINGS – Mohamed Ismail and Hossam Halaweish both scored a goal, and Blake Brettschneider made nine saves as the Bobcats edged Huron 2-1 during Eastern South Dakota Conference boys’ soccer action Monday night at Fishback Soccer Park.

“Huron always gives us exciting games,” said Brookings coach Steve Binkley. “The last time we played them was a 1-0 playoff victory, so this 2-1 win feels about like that one does. It feels like an early-year, playoff-setting match.”

The Tigers found the scoreboard first, netting a goal in the eighth minute.

Shelbey Hershman’s penalty kick was saved by Brettschneider; however, Paw Tar Hsu gathered the rebound and quickly sent a cross to Hershman, who converted the second time around to make it 1-0.

Facing their first deficit of the young season, the Bobcats had the answer.

Ismail drilled a free kick from the top of the box past a wall of Tiger defenders and beat Huron goalkeeper Ta Blue Are for a goal to knot the score at 1-all in the 20th minute.

Later, Hossam Halaweish gathered in a loose ball in the box and found the back of the net in the 35th minute to put Brookings ahead for good.

“I told our guys, all season long it’s going to take all of our bench playing as hard as they can for 80 solid minutes to eke out 2-1 victories; or to come back like they did,” said Binkley. “So this probably won’t be the last time in the season that we see a game like this. But I couldn’t be more proud of the effort all way through, really all the way through.

“We had a lot of guys playing in positions that they’re uncomfortable with and we had injuries and we had a lot of guys that needed subs. It was a tiring game and they gave us everything, so a 2-1 win in a soccer game – it doesn’t feel any better than that I don’t think. And I think our guys will be really proud of staying undefeated in this one heading into Harrisburg next week.”

Blue Are made 10 saves for Huron (2-2-0, 1-2-0).

Brookings (2-0-1, 2-0-0) plays at Harrisburg on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m.