By: Rudy Brandl
Lost in the ugly season-ending 2-1 loss to Oratory Prep was the classy manner in which Manville High boys’ soccer coach Mike Brandstetter handled his troops after the game.
While most players and fans were still complaining about the controversial call that led to the defeat and several unsportsmanlike incidents that took place in the aftermath, Brandstetter was the steady rock that secured order.
The young coach, who has enjoyed some success with both the jayvee boys’ soccer and baseball programs at Manville, may have done his best work after this game.
The Manville boys haven’t won much the past two years and Brandstetter has done a nice job keeping things positive. It’s not easy to practice and play hard every day when your team isn’t winning, at least once in a while.
The Mustangs lost all 18 games last year and didn’t win one until early October, when the two-year losing streak had reached 26 in a row. That victory came over the same Oratory Prep squad that behaved like a bunch of thugs in the rematch.
Tempers flared in the first meeting, but it was nothing more than a few yellow cards that come in your average physical game. Things got much worse the second time the teams played.
The Oratory boys probably didn’t like the idea that the Mustangs had celebrated their first victory in two years at their expense and seemed on their way to a sweep after taking a 1-0 halftime lead.
Oratory has improved since the beginning of the year and played some fine soccer to get back into the game in the second half. The Rams earned the right to be in this game, but they didn’t deserve to take the lead.
Referees occasionally make a call that decides the outcome of a game. In this case, the official made a ruling that directly affected the final score.
Manville goalkeeper Louis Aguilar had just made an acrobatic save of a penalty kick, when the officials ruled that he moved forward off his line before the shooter hit the ball. Oratory was given a second chance at a penalty kick, which the visitors converted for a 2-1 lead.
The Mustangs understandably became angry and played with more intensity in the final eight minutes after this questionable call. They never tied the game and were forced to swallow yet another heart-breaking defeat.
Words and shoves were exchanged by some of the players during the waning moments of the contest. The whistle blew and Oratory celebrated a 2-1 victory.
Brandstetter cautioned his players just to shake hands and walk away from any taunting by the opposition. He and his players weren’t prepared for what happened during the post-game lineup.
An Oratory player spit and nearly started a huge melee that would have been impossible for a few coaches to stop. Brandstetter and MHS girls’ head coach Nestor Cortina jumped right into the fray to break up the teams.
Brandstetter kept his team together and made sure no punches were thrown. He lectured the boys about the importance of sportsmanship and respect for their school and soccer program.
It couldn’t have been easy for a bunch of frustrated teen-agers to sit and listen to their coach, especially after an opposing player had spit on them. Brandstetter managed to restore order and should be commended for his patience and conduct.
Part of a coach’s job is to supervise his players. Brandstetter may not be the most experienced soccer guru in the world, but he knows how to make sure discipline prevails. He wasn’t going to allow an opposing team to goad his players into a fight. Instead, Brandstetter made sure the Mustangs left the field with class and integrity.
Spitting at someone is one of the most despicable human acts. Unfortunately, we see it every now and then in sports. There’s no place for it.
The Oratory player should be suspended. He almost triggered a real mess where many kids could have been hurt.
Hats off to Mike Brandstetter. He kept his kids in line and didn’t allow a classless act to tarnish the reputation of his soccer program.
