MONROE - Senior forward Niven Tomasiewicz is energized by the new formation the Monroe boys soccer team showcased Tuesday in a 4-1 loss to Milton that relies on one more defender and one less forward.
Tomasiewicz scored one goal as Monroe switched to a 4-2-3-1 lineup for Tuesday's showdown with the Red Hawks at Honey Creek Park. The lineup requires four defenders, two holding midfielders who have more defensive responsibilities, three midfielders and one forward.
"I'm really proud of how everyone came together," Tomasiewicz said. "We have a new setup, and I think we played really well. I don't know what we could have done different."
Monroe (5-7-1, 0-2 Badger South) played without freshman Anthany Hernandez, who missed the game due to a strained calf, and junior Dempzy Foley, who served a one-game suspension after receiving a red card Monday for a slide tackle in a 4-1 loss to Platteville-Lancaster.
Monroe coach Tony Vasquez made the switch to the new formation to beef up the Cheesemakers' defense ahead of their matches against two of the top teams in the Badger South Conference in Milton and Oregon, a Division 2 state qualifier last year.
The Cheesemakers averaged more than five goals per game in the first four games. However, Monroe is averaging about one goal per game in their last eight games.
"As our competition has gotten better our goals have been dropping," Vasquez said. "We have to be able to hold teams off. I think for two-thirds of the game we gave them a game. When we go out there against teams like Milton and Oregon, that is all we want to do is give ourselves a chance."
Early on, the Cheesemak-ers put themselves in a good position to upset the Red Hawks. Tomasiewicz scored a goal on an assist from senior Ian Salzwedel at 3 minutes, 19 seconds. Milton junior Spencer Hammer scored a goal on a cross from Jacob Anderson at 43:48, and the teams went into halftime tied at 1.
"I thought we had one of our best performances and games of the year," Vasquez said. "I knew Milton was a tough team. The score doesn't tell how the game was played."
The Red Hawks scored three second-half goals to seal the win. Milton junior forward Scotty Biancofiori scored two goals in the second half to propel the Red Hawks. Biancofiori scored his first goal on a pass from Matt Sheehan at 66:55 to give the Red Hawks a 2-1 lead. Biancofiori scored an unassisted goal about 1 minute later to extend the Red Hawks' lead to 3-1.
The Cheesemakers had several opportunities in the second half but couldn't finish. Monroe junior Silas Setterstrom's shot to the far post glanced off Milton goalkeeper Noah Rickman's hands. Anderson capped the scoring at 75:42. Monroe freshman Nick Schumacher had a golden opportunity with a direct kick that ricocheted off of Rickman's hands in the 77th minute.
Monroe junior goalkeeper Atticus Pond had a game-high 20 saves.
"Atticus played a very good game," Vasquez said. 'We were without two starters, and we had to play some guys out of position at defender. He had some really nice saves."
Monroe will gear up for a showdown at Oregon Friday.
"We will get two starters back and have two more days of practice with the new setup," Tomasiewicz said. "I think we can come back and have a very powerful game."
Tomasiewicz scored one goal as Monroe switched to a 4-2-3-1 lineup for Tuesday's showdown with the Red Hawks at Honey Creek Park. The lineup requires four defenders, two holding midfielders who have more defensive responsibilities, three midfielders and one forward.
"I'm really proud of how everyone came together," Tomasiewicz said. "We have a new setup, and I think we played really well. I don't know what we could have done different."
Monroe (5-7-1, 0-2 Badger South) played without freshman Anthany Hernandez, who missed the game due to a strained calf, and junior Dempzy Foley, who served a one-game suspension after receiving a red card Monday for a slide tackle in a 4-1 loss to Platteville-Lancaster.
Monroe coach Tony Vasquez made the switch to the new formation to beef up the Cheesemakers' defense ahead of their matches against two of the top teams in the Badger South Conference in Milton and Oregon, a Division 2 state qualifier last year.
The Cheesemakers averaged more than five goals per game in the first four games. However, Monroe is averaging about one goal per game in their last eight games.
"As our competition has gotten better our goals have been dropping," Vasquez said. "We have to be able to hold teams off. I think for two-thirds of the game we gave them a game. When we go out there against teams like Milton and Oregon, that is all we want to do is give ourselves a chance."
Early on, the Cheesemak-ers put themselves in a good position to upset the Red Hawks. Tomasiewicz scored a goal on an assist from senior Ian Salzwedel at 3 minutes, 19 seconds. Milton junior Spencer Hammer scored a goal on a cross from Jacob Anderson at 43:48, and the teams went into halftime tied at 1.
"I thought we had one of our best performances and games of the year," Vasquez said. "I knew Milton was a tough team. The score doesn't tell how the game was played."
The Red Hawks scored three second-half goals to seal the win. Milton junior forward Scotty Biancofiori scored two goals in the second half to propel the Red Hawks. Biancofiori scored his first goal on a pass from Matt Sheehan at 66:55 to give the Red Hawks a 2-1 lead. Biancofiori scored an unassisted goal about 1 minute later to extend the Red Hawks' lead to 3-1.
The Cheesemakers had several opportunities in the second half but couldn't finish. Monroe junior Silas Setterstrom's shot to the far post glanced off Milton goalkeeper Noah Rickman's hands. Anderson capped the scoring at 75:42. Monroe freshman Nick Schumacher had a golden opportunity with a direct kick that ricocheted off of Rickman's hands in the 77th minute.
Monroe junior goalkeeper Atticus Pond had a game-high 20 saves.
"Atticus played a very good game," Vasquez said. 'We were without two starters, and we had to play some guys out of position at defender. He had some really nice saves."
Monroe will gear up for a showdown at Oregon Friday.
"We will get two starters back and have two more days of practice with the new setup," Tomasiewicz said. "I think we can come back and have a very powerful game."
