MONONA - The Monroe boys soccer team overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Monona Grove Thursday, Sept. 12. The team won 3-2 in overtime on a game-winning kick from Ian Salzwedel and improved to 4-3-1 on the season.
Coach Tony Vasquez said the team learned a valuable lesson in the game, having overlooked Monona Grove (1-5-1) early in the contest.
"It's hard to talk to kids and get them to understand that you don't want to overlook certain teams," Vasquez said. "(Monona Grove is) struggling this year, and I think our kids overlooked them a little bit in this game.
"They dug a little hole down 2-0 at halftime, and we explained to them that they didn't come ready to play and that it was up to them to dig themselves out. And they were up for it."
Vasquez said it was a completely different game in the second half. "They just kept fighting and fighting and fighting. Going into OT, I was sure we were going to come out with a win. The look the kids had after regulation, they looked ready and I knew they weren't going give up."
Monroe's first goal came off the leg of Dan Tinoco at the 67:14 mark. The team tied the game at the 76:43 mark when Alex Hendrickson kicked in a goal assisted by Evoeny Kondratev.
Vasquez said the close call against Monona Grove should help the Cheesemakers going forward. "Any given day, any team can beat any team. It doesn't matter what your record is. Whether you're Division 1 or Division 3 (team), it depends who wants that win.
"If you start out slow sometimes, you can't dig yourself out. And I thought they were pretty fortunate tonight to have enough left in the tank to get the job done."
Coach Tony Vasquez said the team learned a valuable lesson in the game, having overlooked Monona Grove (1-5-1) early in the contest.
"It's hard to talk to kids and get them to understand that you don't want to overlook certain teams," Vasquez said. "(Monona Grove is) struggling this year, and I think our kids overlooked them a little bit in this game.
"They dug a little hole down 2-0 at halftime, and we explained to them that they didn't come ready to play and that it was up to them to dig themselves out. And they were up for it."
Vasquez said it was a completely different game in the second half. "They just kept fighting and fighting and fighting. Going into OT, I was sure we were going to come out with a win. The look the kids had after regulation, they looked ready and I knew they weren't going give up."
Monroe's first goal came off the leg of Dan Tinoco at the 67:14 mark. The team tied the game at the 76:43 mark when Alex Hendrickson kicked in a goal assisted by Evoeny Kondratev.
Vasquez said the close call against Monona Grove should help the Cheesemakers going forward. "Any given day, any team can beat any team. It doesn't matter what your record is. Whether you're Division 1 or Division 3 (team), it depends who wants that win.
"If you start out slow sometimes, you can't dig yourself out. And I thought they were pretty fortunate tonight to have enough left in the tank to get the job done."
