MONROE - Sophomore Aaron Ziolkowski believes playing a fourth game in four days with a short bench led to some tired legs in the Monroe boys soccer team's 4-2 nonconference loss to Sauk Prairie Tuesday.
Sauk Prairie senior Sawyer Haag scored two goals to lift the Eagles over the Cheesemakers at Honey Creek Park.
"In the first half we did a good job of shutting down their players for the most part," said Ziolkowski, who scored one goal and had one assist. "In the second half we lost our legs and got tired."
Monroe (2-2-2) was playing short-handed without junior defender Victor Vasquez, who missed the game due to a sprained ankle.
"We know we have to play better and can't make mistakes to beat good teams," Ziolkowski said. "We have some games coming up against competitive teams against Evansville and Mount Horeb. We know the starters have to learn to play 90 minutes."
The Cheesemakers got on the scoreboard first when Ziolkowski scored a goal on an assist from junior Nick Schumacher at 26 minutes, 51 seconds.
"It felt pretty good," Ziolkowski said. "A lot of times when you score first you can get another goal or two. Unfortunately, it didn't go that way."
Haag scored a game-tying goal on a pass from senior Drew Raschein at 31:44 to tie the game at 1. Haag scored his second goal on an assist by junior Iggy Bermudez at 44:10 to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead at the half.
"We know they (Sauk Prairie) are probably one of the top teams in the Badger North," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "We are not a good enough team to make mistakes and beat good teams. If we want to beat good teams we have to be close to perfect."
Vasquez said the pace Sauk Prairie wanted to play benefited the Cheesemakers since it was a little slower as the Eagles looked to maintain possession and work for a shot.
"We had trouble clearing the ball where it was in the middle of our defenders and in front of our goal, and they scored a couple of goals," Vasquez said. "It's definitely something we have to fix."
Sauk Prairie senior Juan Herrera Jr. scored a goal at 54:24 to extend the Eagles' lead to 3-1. Junior teammate Max Wilkinson then scored an insurance goal to give the Eagles a 4-1 lead at 60:20.
Monroe junior Nick Benkert scored a goal on an assist from Ziolkowski at 67:07 to cap the scoring.
Monroe will play at Evansville on Thursday and at Mount Horeb on Tuesday.
"We have a tough stretch," Vasquez said. "After Thursday, we can get a rest."
Sauk Prairie senior Sawyer Haag scored two goals to lift the Eagles over the Cheesemakers at Honey Creek Park.
"In the first half we did a good job of shutting down their players for the most part," said Ziolkowski, who scored one goal and had one assist. "In the second half we lost our legs and got tired."
Monroe (2-2-2) was playing short-handed without junior defender Victor Vasquez, who missed the game due to a sprained ankle.
"We know we have to play better and can't make mistakes to beat good teams," Ziolkowski said. "We have some games coming up against competitive teams against Evansville and Mount Horeb. We know the starters have to learn to play 90 minutes."
The Cheesemakers got on the scoreboard first when Ziolkowski scored a goal on an assist from junior Nick Schumacher at 26 minutes, 51 seconds.
"It felt pretty good," Ziolkowski said. "A lot of times when you score first you can get another goal or two. Unfortunately, it didn't go that way."
Haag scored a game-tying goal on a pass from senior Drew Raschein at 31:44 to tie the game at 1. Haag scored his second goal on an assist by junior Iggy Bermudez at 44:10 to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead at the half.
"We know they (Sauk Prairie) are probably one of the top teams in the Badger North," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "We are not a good enough team to make mistakes and beat good teams. If we want to beat good teams we have to be close to perfect."
Vasquez said the pace Sauk Prairie wanted to play benefited the Cheesemakers since it was a little slower as the Eagles looked to maintain possession and work for a shot.
"We had trouble clearing the ball where it was in the middle of our defenders and in front of our goal, and they scored a couple of goals," Vasquez said. "It's definitely something we have to fix."
Sauk Prairie senior Juan Herrera Jr. scored a goal at 54:24 to extend the Eagles' lead to 3-1. Junior teammate Max Wilkinson then scored an insurance goal to give the Eagles a 4-1 lead at 60:20.
Monroe junior Nick Benkert scored a goal on an assist from Ziolkowski at 67:07 to cap the scoring.
Monroe will play at Evansville on Thursday and at Mount Horeb on Tuesday.
"We have a tough stretch," Vasquez said. "After Thursday, we can get a rest."
