MONROE - Despite battling several injuries, the Monroe boys soccer team picked up its first win Saturday, Aug. 24 and played for the championship in the Monroe Invitational at Honey Creek Park.
Monroe (1-1-1) knocked off Columbus 4-1 and lost in the title game to Fond du Lac 5-3.
Monroe sophomore McKenzy Foley scored the first goal for the Cheesemakers on an assist from Ryne Miller at 2 minutes, 21 seconds.
Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said the early goal by Foley helped set the tone for the game.
"They started quick like we tell them we need to," Vasquez said. "We can't let teams hang around."
The Cheesemakers had six junior varsity players that came up to play because three players have battled quad and calf injuries after the season-opening 3-3 tie with Evansville.
"It helped give the guys a little bit of a break," Vasquez said of the JV players. "They did wear down in the championship game. I'm not sure if it was the back-to-back games and the heat. I was really happy with the way they played."
Monroe junior Kevin Noriega scored a goal on an assist by Ian Salzwedel, who came up from the JV. Salzwedel scored his first varsity goal at 55:16. Monroe senior Alexsi Vainola, an exchange student from Finland, scored the final goal on a pass from Nivin Tomasiewicz to seal the win. Monroe junior goalkeeper Autsin Murphy had eight saves.
Noriega scored two goals in the loss to Fond du Lac, a Division 1 program. Noriega's first goal came just 47 seconds into the game on an assist by junior Dan Tinoco. Noriega scored his second goal on an assist from Foley at 43 minutes.
Monroe senior Matt Hodgson scored the final goal for the Cheesemakers on an assist from senior Taylor Teasdale at 78:10. The Cheesemakers got within 4-3, but Fond du Lac scored late to seal the victory.
Vasquez said playing a senior-dominated team like Fond du Lac was a good test before the Badger South Conference schedule.
"I told them that playing Fond du Lac would be a lot like when we play Oregon and Fort Atkinson," Vasquez said. "They played hard, fought and didn't give up."
Monroe will host Baraboo in a non-conference game at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Honey Creek Park and will then host Mount Horeb at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Monroe (1-1-1) knocked off Columbus 4-1 and lost in the title game to Fond du Lac 5-3.
Monroe sophomore McKenzy Foley scored the first goal for the Cheesemakers on an assist from Ryne Miller at 2 minutes, 21 seconds.
Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said the early goal by Foley helped set the tone for the game.
"They started quick like we tell them we need to," Vasquez said. "We can't let teams hang around."
The Cheesemakers had six junior varsity players that came up to play because three players have battled quad and calf injuries after the season-opening 3-3 tie with Evansville.
"It helped give the guys a little bit of a break," Vasquez said of the JV players. "They did wear down in the championship game. I'm not sure if it was the back-to-back games and the heat. I was really happy with the way they played."
Monroe junior Kevin Noriega scored a goal on an assist by Ian Salzwedel, who came up from the JV. Salzwedel scored his first varsity goal at 55:16. Monroe senior Alexsi Vainola, an exchange student from Finland, scored the final goal on a pass from Nivin Tomasiewicz to seal the win. Monroe junior goalkeeper Autsin Murphy had eight saves.
Noriega scored two goals in the loss to Fond du Lac, a Division 1 program. Noriega's first goal came just 47 seconds into the game on an assist by junior Dan Tinoco. Noriega scored his second goal on an assist from Foley at 43 minutes.
Monroe senior Matt Hodgson scored the final goal for the Cheesemakers on an assist from senior Taylor Teasdale at 78:10. The Cheesemakers got within 4-3, but Fond du Lac scored late to seal the victory.
Vasquez said playing a senior-dominated team like Fond du Lac was a good test before the Badger South Conference schedule.
"I told them that playing Fond du Lac would be a lot like when we play Oregon and Fort Atkinson," Vasquez said. "They played hard, fought and didn't give up."
Monroe will host Baraboo in a non-conference game at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Honey Creek Park and will then host Mount Horeb at 5 p.m. Thursday.
