BELLEVILLE - The annual matchup between Monroe and Sugar River is always filled with intensity and pride. Bragging rights for Green County are on the line.
"We're the only two teams in Green County and we always come together and play very hard," Monroe head coach Tony Stamm said.
Thursday evening the Cheesemakers couldn't hold a 2-0 second-half lead as the Raiders came back to force a 2-2 double-overtime tie.
"We're a team, we never give up," Raiders senior Brett Ellenberger said. "We persevere."
Monroe, leading 1-0 at halftime, opened the second half in style as Mitch Marty sent a free kick pass to Kelli Isaj, who headed the ball past Sugar River goalkeeper Alex Gocht just 20 seconds into the frame.
"It was really exciting. But then what happened is we started relaxing," Stamm said. "We needed to just hold back a little bit and try to keep from getting scored on."
Sugar River didn't hang their heads, despite top stars Jon Fox and Otto Kienitz sitting out.
"It makes me work a little harder and it makes everyone else work a little harder. It's not just me, it's not just the seniors - it's everyone working together as a team," Ellenberger said.
Fox sat out with a sore leg but will be back to play this year, according to Sugar River coach Matt Belknap. Kienitz re-injured the broken foot he was recovering from and will not return this season.
"Jon gave the guys a big speech today, reminding them how good they were without him and how much they can do without him," Belknap said. "The guys knew two goals was not insurmountable."
Sugar River found a way to fight back.
Five minutes into the half, Justin Stadelman collided with Monroe goalie Kramer Henning on a save attempt, and the ball poked free. Freshman Travis Loeffelholz scored on the rebound.
Henning, who was noticeably shaken up afterward, said he was hit in the groin area and, "was scared of getting hit again."
Eleven minutes later, Ellenberger's throw-in went through the arms and legs of Henning and Stadelman put the ball in the back of the net.
"We need to finish the game. We had a couple stupid mistakes and it jeopardized the game," Stamm said.
Monroe's first goal came with 10 minutes, 39 seconds left in the first half as Marty broke through a crowd and sent a cross pass through the box. Monroe's Blake Duffy headed a shot into the goal.
"We had a lot of opportunities to score. We kept it down on their side," Stamm said. "The problem was the little bit of rain that we had, the ball was slippery and we didn't have good contact with it."
Sugar River hosts a quadrangular Saturday in New Glarus, and Monroe is attending.
"I'm looking forward to a rematch. I hope we both meet in the finals," Belknap said.
"We're the only two teams in Green County and we always come together and play very hard," Monroe head coach Tony Stamm said.
Thursday evening the Cheesemakers couldn't hold a 2-0 second-half lead as the Raiders came back to force a 2-2 double-overtime tie.
"We're a team, we never give up," Raiders senior Brett Ellenberger said. "We persevere."
Monroe, leading 1-0 at halftime, opened the second half in style as Mitch Marty sent a free kick pass to Kelli Isaj, who headed the ball past Sugar River goalkeeper Alex Gocht just 20 seconds into the frame.
"It was really exciting. But then what happened is we started relaxing," Stamm said. "We needed to just hold back a little bit and try to keep from getting scored on."
Sugar River didn't hang their heads, despite top stars Jon Fox and Otto Kienitz sitting out.
"It makes me work a little harder and it makes everyone else work a little harder. It's not just me, it's not just the seniors - it's everyone working together as a team," Ellenberger said.
Fox sat out with a sore leg but will be back to play this year, according to Sugar River coach Matt Belknap. Kienitz re-injured the broken foot he was recovering from and will not return this season.
"Jon gave the guys a big speech today, reminding them how good they were without him and how much they can do without him," Belknap said. "The guys knew two goals was not insurmountable."
Sugar River found a way to fight back.
Five minutes into the half, Justin Stadelman collided with Monroe goalie Kramer Henning on a save attempt, and the ball poked free. Freshman Travis Loeffelholz scored on the rebound.
Henning, who was noticeably shaken up afterward, said he was hit in the groin area and, "was scared of getting hit again."
Eleven minutes later, Ellenberger's throw-in went through the arms and legs of Henning and Stadelman put the ball in the back of the net.
"We need to finish the game. We had a couple stupid mistakes and it jeopardized the game," Stamm said.
Monroe's first goal came with 10 minutes, 39 seconds left in the first half as Marty broke through a crowd and sent a cross pass through the box. Monroe's Blake Duffy headed a shot into the goal.
"We had a lot of opportunities to score. We kept it down on their side," Stamm said. "The problem was the little bit of rain that we had, the ball was slippery and we didn't have good contact with it."
Sugar River hosts a quadrangular Saturday in New Glarus, and Monroe is attending.
"I'm looking forward to a rematch. I hope we both meet in the finals," Belknap said.
