MONROE - Miriam O'Neill might be tempted to gush more about the Monroe girls soccer team's offensive play if she didn't feel the need to give equal time to the Cheesemakers' back line.
And then there's the midfield crew that's pulling everything together.
"I'm very pleased with what I'm seeing," O'Neill said. "It's all coming together for them."
That process continued Tuesday, when sophomore forward Gabby Ludwig scored her fifth goal of the season and the Cheesemakers extended a stretch of stingy defensive play in a 1-0 victory against Monona Grove at Honey Creek Park.
Monroe (4-2, 1-1 Badger South) won its fourth straight contest by locking down a speedy forward group from Monona Grove (4-6, 1-1).
"MG played hard. They were very determined," O'Neill said. "But I think our defense is really stepping up and working very well together."
Silver Eagles coach Erin Flesch thinks so, too.
"Their defense is pretty strong. I was impressed with how physical a couple of their players were on defense," Flesch said. "We have a lot of speed up top and a lot of strength, and they haven't been pressured like that before, so that was impressive. (Monroe's) center backs are strong."
Sophomore sweeper Allison Coplien and senior Molly Hlubek have anchored a defensive unit which has helped senior goalkeeper Rachel Wellnitz post three shutouts and allow just one goal in the four-game winning streak.
"(Coplien) has that great instinct," O'Neill said. "She knows when to make that step forward and get to that ball. There's also that communication now between Molly and Allison and they are reading each other really well. They're really anchoring the center of our defense."
Monroe carried the play throughout the first half and scored in the 31st minute, when sophomore midfielder Vanessa Studer found Ludwig running at the right post. Ludwig got to the ball and scored on a soft touch along the ground to the near post.
Ludwig's five goals are second to Studer's team-best eight.
"I just kept working and Vanessa made a really good through ball and I got there and got my foot on it," Ludwig said.
Just like she has been doing recently in practice, according to O'Neill.
"Gabby is a tremendous athlete. She's very fast and she just perseveres and perseveres and perseveres," O'Neill said. "Gabby has really been working on sliding that ball past the keeper because she gets a lot of those through balls from the midfield and she always gets onto them. Then it's hard to compose yourself in front of the goal and just slide it past the keeper. She did that beautifully today. It was just perfect."
Said Ludwig: "I just keep going and eventually I know I'll get my chance."
The Cheesemakers have been getting a few more scoring chances than perhaps even O'Neill expected early. Monroe has 24 goals on the season, an average of four per game.
"It's possibly the first season where we're scoring in every single game," said O'Neill, Monroe's eighth-year coach. "We have a lot of speed, we have a lot of determination and we're communicating really well."
Wellnitz made 10 saves to record the shutout. Monroe put 16 shots on goal.
And then there's the midfield crew that's pulling everything together.
"I'm very pleased with what I'm seeing," O'Neill said. "It's all coming together for them."
That process continued Tuesday, when sophomore forward Gabby Ludwig scored her fifth goal of the season and the Cheesemakers extended a stretch of stingy defensive play in a 1-0 victory against Monona Grove at Honey Creek Park.
Monroe (4-2, 1-1 Badger South) won its fourth straight contest by locking down a speedy forward group from Monona Grove (4-6, 1-1).
"MG played hard. They were very determined," O'Neill said. "But I think our defense is really stepping up and working very well together."
Silver Eagles coach Erin Flesch thinks so, too.
"Their defense is pretty strong. I was impressed with how physical a couple of their players were on defense," Flesch said. "We have a lot of speed up top and a lot of strength, and they haven't been pressured like that before, so that was impressive. (Monroe's) center backs are strong."
Sophomore sweeper Allison Coplien and senior Molly Hlubek have anchored a defensive unit which has helped senior goalkeeper Rachel Wellnitz post three shutouts and allow just one goal in the four-game winning streak.
"(Coplien) has that great instinct," O'Neill said. "She knows when to make that step forward and get to that ball. There's also that communication now between Molly and Allison and they are reading each other really well. They're really anchoring the center of our defense."
Monroe carried the play throughout the first half and scored in the 31st minute, when sophomore midfielder Vanessa Studer found Ludwig running at the right post. Ludwig got to the ball and scored on a soft touch along the ground to the near post.
Ludwig's five goals are second to Studer's team-best eight.
"I just kept working and Vanessa made a really good through ball and I got there and got my foot on it," Ludwig said.
Just like she has been doing recently in practice, according to O'Neill.
"Gabby is a tremendous athlete. She's very fast and she just perseveres and perseveres and perseveres," O'Neill said. "Gabby has really been working on sliding that ball past the keeper because she gets a lot of those through balls from the midfield and she always gets onto them. Then it's hard to compose yourself in front of the goal and just slide it past the keeper. She did that beautifully today. It was just perfect."
Said Ludwig: "I just keep going and eventually I know I'll get my chance."
The Cheesemakers have been getting a few more scoring chances than perhaps even O'Neill expected early. Monroe has 24 goals on the season, an average of four per game.
"It's possibly the first season where we're scoring in every single game," said O'Neill, Monroe's eighth-year coach. "We have a lot of speed, we have a lot of determination and we're communicating really well."
Wellnitz made 10 saves to record the shutout. Monroe put 16 shots on goal.
