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Improved Tiger squad proves tough for Bears
by Gregory Norfleet · Sports · April 09, 2025
A road matchup against an improved Tipton squad proved too much for the West Branch boys’ soccer team as the Bears fell 5-2 to the Tigers Monday night at Diedrichsen Field.
“That team is definitely much improved from last season,” West Branch Head Coach Ted Miller said. “They played really well. We just need to work on some things that kind of bit us in the butt.”
Tipton returned all but two of its starters from last season’s squad that posted an 11-6 mark in its first winning season in program history. The Tigers also came just one match away from qualifying for state in Class 1A.
The win gave Tipton its first-ever win over West Branch. At the helm was second-year Head Coach Anthony “TJ” Cappel, who served as an assistant on the Bears’ first state-qualifying team two seasons ago.
“It’s a bit bittersweet,” Cappel said of the win. “I obviously want to win every game, I’d love to go 16-0. But I think that one means a lot to me, not just because I coached there, but also because these guys grew up close to them [West Branch], some guys play club with these guys and play them in so many sports.”
The early moments were a back-and-forth battle, with Reese Gingerich getting a shot on goal for West Branch just two minutes into the match. Jayson Johnson responded with a shot on goal for Tipton two minutes later before Oakley Kruse had a pair of shots for the Tigers moments later. Carter Hermiston stopped a Bears’ shot for a save after 11 minutes, but Gingerich kept working with a shot at the 12-minute mark.
Following another Hermiston save, Tipton had a pair of shots from Miles Christian, the latter of which found the net to put Tipton ahead 1-0 after 14 minutes.
After the reset, Tate Frantz had a shot for the Bears before a good chance for West Branch on a Timmy Hosier shot on goal at the 18-minute mark. Julian Weckman headed a shot for the Bears moments later, while Wyatt Ham had a look of his own on a header off a corner kick for Tipton after 26 minutes.
The two teams settled into their defenses, with Johnson unfurling a shot at 34 minutes before adding a shot on goal on a free kick two minutes later. In the same minute, Ham scored a goal off a corner kick to give the Tigers a 2-0 edge with four minutes to go until the half.
Tipton had a shot from Kruse two minutes later, while the Tigers had a chance at a goal just before the half that missed the net. The hosts still held a 2-0 edge heading into the final 40 minutes.
Hermiston had to field a West Branch shot just a minute into the second half, while Christian answered with a shot on goal a minute later. After another Hermiston save at the 45-minute mark, Elliot Hinkhouse had a shot for West Branch at 47 minutes.
Hermiston kept busy with a save three minutes later, while Xander Boatman gave Tipton a 3-0 cushion after 58 minutes on an assist from Kruse.
West Branch answered quickly, with Gingerich cutting the gap to 3-1 on a penalty kick at the 60-minute mark.
Hinkhouse had a good chance at cutting the gap to one with a shot on goal from distance at 66 minutes. Kruse then gave Tipton a three-goal cushion with 10 minutes remaining with his first goal of the night.
Frantz had a shot for the Bears after 73 minutes, while West Branch had its second goal in the evening after Teague Thomas followed up on a Gingerich shot to make it a 4-2 contest.
Tipton continued to work for a cushion as a clinical flipped shot by Christian just missed the net by striking the goalpost. After another good look from Christian, Kruse drew a penalty kick at 78 minutes and proceeded to convert the penalty to make it 5-2. West Branch could not answer before the final whistle blew.
Set pieces were a thorn in the Bears’ side, as Miller noted that the Tigers scored each of their five goals on free kicks or corner kicks. When the ball was in play, West Branch did a good job of limiting a potent and experienced Tipton attack with good efforts from a back line that included Oliver Trepanier, Jackson Ellyson, and Ethan Fawcett, among others. In goal, Robby Boaz handled the first half while Seth Hosier took over duties in the second.
“I thought our defense for the most part played well,” Miller said. “They didn’t score from the field. Corner kicks, free kicks, so yeah, I thought our defense did well.”
The Bears offense managed several good looks against a staunch and well-connected Tipton defense as well as Hermiston, who came up with 18 saves in his first regular season match as a goalie. Miller said he didn’t think the offense played well, noting that West Branch was forcing too many long passes that the Tigers anticipated well.
“The second half we shortened up the passes,” the coach said. “I thought we had a lot more opportunities in the second half.”
West Branch entered the matchup coming off a busy stretch that included a home win on Friday over Sigourney-Keota and a two-match split on Saturday at a tournament held in Solon. Miller said the flurry of matches tested the Bears’ depth, which took a hit after several key starters and reserves graduated last year, and forced West Branch to adapt to its new tactics on the fly. The coach added that not having forward Jarrett Ellyson available due to injury “hurt.”
The Bears had a full week in between matches to rest and prepare with the next matchup set for April 14 at home against Maquoketa. Miller said the team would watch film on Wednesday and then practice the remaining days to get ready to face the Cardinals, which held a 3-0 record as of April 8.
1 2 T
WB 0 2 2
Tip 2 3 5
West Branch statistics n/a
Tipton offense: Oakley Kruse 1 AST, 2 G, 5 PTS, 7 SHT, 2 SOG, 1 PKM, 1 PKA; Austin Ellerhoff 1 AST, 1 PTS; Miles Christian 1 G, 2 PTS, 8 SHT, 7 SOG; Cooper Boeve 1 SHT, 1 SOG; Jayson Johnson 1 AST, 1 PTS, 7 SHT, 6 SOG; Wyatt Ham 1 G, 2 PTS, 2 SHT, 1 SOG; Xander Boatman 1 AST, 1 G, 3 PTS, 1 SHT, 1 SOG. Team totals: 4 AST, 5 G, 14 PTS, 26 SHT, 18 SOG,, 1 PKM, 1 PKA.
Tipton goalkeeping: Carter Hermiston 80 minutes, 2 GA, 18 SV, 90 PCT.
West Branch 6, Sigourney-Keota 0
The Bears hosted Sigourney-Keota on April 4, defeating the visitors, 6-0.
Half scores n/a
West Branch statistics n/a
Sigourney-Keota statistics n/a
West Branch also traveled to Solon for a triangular on Saturday, April 6, taking on their hosts and Clinton.
West Branch 5, Solon 2
Game 1 against Solon resulted in the Bears winning, 5-2.
1 2 T
WB 1 4 5
Sol 0 2 2
West Branch statistics n/a
Solon offense: Ethan Ulch 1 G, 2 PTS, 3 SHT, 1 SOG; Will McAtee 2 SHT, 1 SOG; Evan Burg 1 SHT; Elliot Sutton 4 SH, 1 SOG; Tucker Spence 1 G, 2 PTS, 1 SHT, 1 SOG; Caden Mai 3 SHT, 1 SOG; Tripp Johnson 1 SHT; Griffin Spence 1 SHT, 1 SOG; Ryan Locke 1 AST, 1 PT, 4 SHT, 3 SOG. Team totals: 1 AST, 2 G, 5 PTS, 20 SHT, 9 SOG.
Solon goalkeeping: Luis Buck 80 MIN, 5 GA, 2 SVs, 28.6 PCT. Team totals: 80 MIN, 5 GA, 2 SVS, 28.6 PCT.
West Branch 0, Clinton 1
In Game 2, West Branch fell to Clinton, 1-0.
1 2 T
WB 0 0 0
Clin 1 0 1
Clinton offense: Adis Ravmanoski 2 SHT; Lincoln Hinrichs 1 SHT; Josh Liles 1 AST, 1 PT, 2 SHT; Brayden Schadowsky 1 SHT, 1 SOG; Eli Rapp 1 G, 2 PT, 2 SHT, 1 SOG. Team totals: 1 AST, 1 G, 3 PTS, 8 SHT, 2 SOG.
Clinton goalkeeping: BJ Cooly 80 MIN, 0 GA, 9 SV, 100 PCT. Team totals: 80 MIN, 0 GA, 9 SV, 100 PCT.
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