MONROE - Things just keep looking better and better this spring for the Cheesemakers girls soccer team.
After picking up its first conference win of the year Thursday at Fort Atkinson to get its overall record above .500, Monroe blanked Stoughton 4-0 at home Friday.
"That was a nice game and a nice win - we've never beaten Stoughton before," coach Miriam O'Neill said. "It's really coming together for us."
The Cheese struck gold right away, as sophomore Kylee Ritschard scored just 1 minute, 57 seconds into the game off an assist by senior Erin Solawetz.
"That was really a nice assist from Erin to Kylee. And scoring a goal that early, it was really nice," O'Neill said.
The score was just the first of three in the first half.
"We had the advantage of the wind in the first half and we used it," O'Neill said.
Monroe has faced several challenges as the season has progressed. An early double-overtime tie to conference power Oregon set the tone. Since then, Monroe has lost a few games by a single goal to tough opponents - namely Milton and Monona Grove - and by two to Madison Edgewood.
"We really spread the ball well. We passed very well and we held possession most of the night," O'Neill said. "The girls are really learning to play with each other a lot better - knowing where to put the ball and where the others are going to run.
"And our throw-ins from Sierra (Neuenschwander) have been great and can really be a factor in a game like this."
Monroe's confidence grew throughout Friday's game. The Cheesemakers' defense allowed just five shots on goal, and goalkeeper Gail LaVoie stopped each one - including a dandy in the final five minutes to preserve the shutout.
"She had some nice saves today. She's doing a really good job for us in there," O'Neill said. "I always tell them that one good save, one good play - then it's a good game."
Monroe spread the ball around the field throughout the game, and continued to attack the Vikings from all sides.
"We're doing a really nice job of overlapping each other. Our midfielders are covering our forwards and we're staying outside keeping our position and a really nice shape on the field. You can see their game improving."
Freshman Chelsea Haffele scored the second goal off a pass from Kirstie Hinojosa. Ritschard scored again, unassisted, just before halftime.
In the second half, Catie Eiserman got into the action. Ritschard took a pass from her left side and in a tussle plopped the ball just beyond Stoughton goalie Carly Meuer. As Meuer and other defenders watched to see if the ball would trickle past the goal line, Eiserman gave the checkered sphere one last tap for the score in the 42nd minute.
"It has to go all the way across the line," O'Neill said.
With the win, Monroe improves to 6-3-3 overall and 2-3-1 in conference. The Cheesemakers are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.
After picking up its first conference win of the year Thursday at Fort Atkinson to get its overall record above .500, Monroe blanked Stoughton 4-0 at home Friday.
"That was a nice game and a nice win - we've never beaten Stoughton before," coach Miriam O'Neill said. "It's really coming together for us."
The Cheese struck gold right away, as sophomore Kylee Ritschard scored just 1 minute, 57 seconds into the game off an assist by senior Erin Solawetz.
"That was really a nice assist from Erin to Kylee. And scoring a goal that early, it was really nice," O'Neill said.
The score was just the first of three in the first half.
"We had the advantage of the wind in the first half and we used it," O'Neill said.
Monroe has faced several challenges as the season has progressed. An early double-overtime tie to conference power Oregon set the tone. Since then, Monroe has lost a few games by a single goal to tough opponents - namely Milton and Monona Grove - and by two to Madison Edgewood.
"We really spread the ball well. We passed very well and we held possession most of the night," O'Neill said. "The girls are really learning to play with each other a lot better - knowing where to put the ball and where the others are going to run.
"And our throw-ins from Sierra (Neuenschwander) have been great and can really be a factor in a game like this."
Monroe's confidence grew throughout Friday's game. The Cheesemakers' defense allowed just five shots on goal, and goalkeeper Gail LaVoie stopped each one - including a dandy in the final five minutes to preserve the shutout.
"She had some nice saves today. She's doing a really good job for us in there," O'Neill said. "I always tell them that one good save, one good play - then it's a good game."
Monroe spread the ball around the field throughout the game, and continued to attack the Vikings from all sides.
"We're doing a really nice job of overlapping each other. Our midfielders are covering our forwards and we're staying outside keeping our position and a really nice shape on the field. You can see their game improving."
Freshman Chelsea Haffele scored the second goal off a pass from Kirstie Hinojosa. Ritschard scored again, unassisted, just before halftime.
In the second half, Catie Eiserman got into the action. Ritschard took a pass from her left side and in a tussle plopped the ball just beyond Stoughton goalie Carly Meuer. As Meuer and other defenders watched to see if the ball would trickle past the goal line, Eiserman gave the checkered sphere one last tap for the score in the 42nd minute.
"It has to go all the way across the line," O'Neill said.
With the win, Monroe improves to 6-3-3 overall and 2-3-1 in conference. The Cheesemakers are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.
