MONROE - Senior Katie Coplien understands that the goalkeeper has a bulls-eye on them in a shootout.
She didn't mind being the center of attention Thursday at Honey Creek Park. Coplien made a key save and scored a go-ahead goal to propel the Cheesemakers to a 4-2 shootout win over Cambridge/Deerfield in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal.
"It's the best feeling I have ever had in the world," Katie Coplien said. "We had to work hard. After that first goal we didn't get down. We fought back. We have a lot of heart and it showed."
After 100 minutes of soccer that featured two overtimes, the Cheesemakers and United were tied at 1 and headed to a shootout. The Cheesemakers got shootout goals from freshmen Vanessa Studer and Allie Coplien. With the game tied 2-2, Katie Coplien made a save to preserve a 2-2 tie in the shootout. She then had the go-ahead goal and senior Kylee Ritschard scored another on a low liner to the far post that clinched the victory for the Cheesemakers.
"The entire shootout they were going to their right," Katie Coplien said. "I knew if I saw their eyes go to the right, they were probably going to the right."
Ritschard was excited to seal the game with the final goal. She was mobbed by teammates at midfield after the clinching goal.
"I knew I had to stay calm," Ritschard said. "Their goalie is real tall. I knew I had to keep it low and to the corner."
With the win, Monroe (9-7-2) moves on to play No. 1 seed Madison Edgewood in a regional championship game on Saturday at Breese Stevens Field.
"It's really nice because this is my last year especially against a team like that," Ritschard said. "It's real nice to win a close one. It's a good win to leave this home field."
Both teams had golden scoring opportunities in the first overtime. Cambridge/Deerfield freshman Amanda Peterson, in the 81st minute, pounded a shot off the top cross bar that could have won the game for the United. Peterson had another shot at the goal in the 88th minute. Monroe freshman Gabby Ludwig, who had several shots on goal, just missed a shot in the 89th minute.
The Cheesemakers were aggressive early on in the first half with four shots on goal in the first eight minutes. Ludwig had a couple shots on goal to start the second half, but the United turned them away. Monroe had seven corner kicks in the game, but were only able to generate one goal in regulation. Courtney Spier, United's goalie, had 15 saves.
After being shut down for 57 minutes, the Cheesemakers got on the board when Studer lofted a shot from about 22 yards out that found the back of the net to tie the game at 1 at the 57:32 mark.
"Everyone out there was really stepping up and being the first one to the ball," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill said. "At halftime I said, 'Keep doing what you are doing and they will go in.' Vanessa is very good at kicking from long distance. She has a very strong foot. The more of that she does, the better."
Coplien made a diving save in the 75th minute to preserve the tie game. She finished with 10 saves.
"She (Coplien) was absolutely brilliant," O'Neill said.
Now Monroe turns its attention to a regional final showdown against Madison Edgewood.
"We want another shot at Edgewood," O'Neill said. "For the seniors it's great for them to end their season here (at Honey Creek Park). It's good for the seniors because there were a lot of great performances."
She didn't mind being the center of attention Thursday at Honey Creek Park. Coplien made a key save and scored a go-ahead goal to propel the Cheesemakers to a 4-2 shootout win over Cambridge/Deerfield in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal.
"It's the best feeling I have ever had in the world," Katie Coplien said. "We had to work hard. After that first goal we didn't get down. We fought back. We have a lot of heart and it showed."
After 100 minutes of soccer that featured two overtimes, the Cheesemakers and United were tied at 1 and headed to a shootout. The Cheesemakers got shootout goals from freshmen Vanessa Studer and Allie Coplien. With the game tied 2-2, Katie Coplien made a save to preserve a 2-2 tie in the shootout. She then had the go-ahead goal and senior Kylee Ritschard scored another on a low liner to the far post that clinched the victory for the Cheesemakers.
"The entire shootout they were going to their right," Katie Coplien said. "I knew if I saw their eyes go to the right, they were probably going to the right."
Ritschard was excited to seal the game with the final goal. She was mobbed by teammates at midfield after the clinching goal.
"I knew I had to stay calm," Ritschard said. "Their goalie is real tall. I knew I had to keep it low and to the corner."
With the win, Monroe (9-7-2) moves on to play No. 1 seed Madison Edgewood in a regional championship game on Saturday at Breese Stevens Field.
"It's really nice because this is my last year especially against a team like that," Ritschard said. "It's real nice to win a close one. It's a good win to leave this home field."
Both teams had golden scoring opportunities in the first overtime. Cambridge/Deerfield freshman Amanda Peterson, in the 81st minute, pounded a shot off the top cross bar that could have won the game for the United. Peterson had another shot at the goal in the 88th minute. Monroe freshman Gabby Ludwig, who had several shots on goal, just missed a shot in the 89th minute.
The Cheesemakers were aggressive early on in the first half with four shots on goal in the first eight minutes. Ludwig had a couple shots on goal to start the second half, but the United turned them away. Monroe had seven corner kicks in the game, but were only able to generate one goal in regulation. Courtney Spier, United's goalie, had 15 saves.
After being shut down for 57 minutes, the Cheesemakers got on the board when Studer lofted a shot from about 22 yards out that found the back of the net to tie the game at 1 at the 57:32 mark.
"Everyone out there was really stepping up and being the first one to the ball," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill said. "At halftime I said, 'Keep doing what you are doing and they will go in.' Vanessa is very good at kicking from long distance. She has a very strong foot. The more of that she does, the better."
Coplien made a diving save in the 75th minute to preserve the tie game. She finished with 10 saves.
"She (Coplien) was absolutely brilliant," O'Neill said.
Now Monroe turns its attention to a regional final showdown against Madison Edgewood.
"We want another shot at Edgewood," O'Neill said. "For the seniors it's great for them to end their season here (at Honey Creek Park). It's good for the seniors because there were a lot of great performances."
