MONROE - Offensive struggles continued to plague the Monroe soccer team Tuesday in a 4-0 loss to Madison Edgewood at Honey Creek Park.
Monroe (4-10, 1-4 Badger South) had nine shots on goal as a team, up from six last week against Oregon, but the Cheesemakers were unable to cash in.
"We had some good opportunities to score, and had two shots on an open net that we missed," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "So it was disappointing tonight. The game was pretty even."
The first big mistake the Cheesemakers had as a team Tuesday was failing to mark a Madison Edgewood attacker, who got a deflection off a cross to score an early goal for the Crusaders, Vasquez said.
"We talk about, over and over again, how when you have two teams feeling each other out, there's some nerves, but that first goal is so big. It (Edgewood) stayed relaxed a little bit, and we fell apart," Vasquez said. "It's a maturity thing. It's something that's been a constant battle for us this year."
Goalkeeper Austin Murphy had seven saves against Edgewood, which lifted its record to .500 at 7-7-1.
Vasquez said his team seemed to slow down after mistakes led to early goals, leading to a "bit of quarreling" between teammates. The coach said the team may have played a little tight Tuesday due to stakes of the game.
"They knew if we got a win tonight, it was going to make a big difference for our season," Vasquez said. "We play four teams in our playoff bracket, and we've won three of those, and Edgewood would have been another one that would affect our seedings. So I don't know if they were more nervous because of that or not."
The playoffs begin Oct. 11.
As the season draws to a close, Vasquez said his team needs to focus more on playing the game - not the scoreboard. The coach said his team has been getting too tied up in the "things they don't have control over," like the officiating and trash talking.
"If they lose their temper, lose their cool, the refs aren't going to go easier on you if you're complaining about every call. The second you start worrying about those things, you're out of the game and you're not worrying about soccer.
"But it comes with age and experience. You learn to play through that stuff."
For their regular season finale, the Cheesemakers will travel to Fort Atkinson 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Monroe (4-10, 1-4 Badger South) had nine shots on goal as a team, up from six last week against Oregon, but the Cheesemakers were unable to cash in.
"We had some good opportunities to score, and had two shots on an open net that we missed," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "So it was disappointing tonight. The game was pretty even."
The first big mistake the Cheesemakers had as a team Tuesday was failing to mark a Madison Edgewood attacker, who got a deflection off a cross to score an early goal for the Crusaders, Vasquez said.
"We talk about, over and over again, how when you have two teams feeling each other out, there's some nerves, but that first goal is so big. It (Edgewood) stayed relaxed a little bit, and we fell apart," Vasquez said. "It's a maturity thing. It's something that's been a constant battle for us this year."
Goalkeeper Austin Murphy had seven saves against Edgewood, which lifted its record to .500 at 7-7-1.
Vasquez said his team seemed to slow down after mistakes led to early goals, leading to a "bit of quarreling" between teammates. The coach said the team may have played a little tight Tuesday due to stakes of the game.
"They knew if we got a win tonight, it was going to make a big difference for our season," Vasquez said. "We play four teams in our playoff bracket, and we've won three of those, and Edgewood would have been another one that would affect our seedings. So I don't know if they were more nervous because of that or not."
The playoffs begin Oct. 11.
As the season draws to a close, Vasquez said his team needs to focus more on playing the game - not the scoreboard. The coach said his team has been getting too tied up in the "things they don't have control over," like the officiating and trash talking.
"If they lose their temper, lose their cool, the refs aren't going to go easier on you if you're complaining about every call. The second you start worrying about those things, you're out of the game and you're not worrying about soccer.
"But it comes with age and experience. You learn to play through that stuff."
For their regular season finale, the Cheesemakers will travel to Fort Atkinson 7 p.m. Tuesday.
