MONROE - Monroe boys soccer coach Tony Vasquez challenged the Cheesemakers to think about what type of team they want to become as they set to roll into the Badger South Conference season after a 4-0 loss to Sauk Prairie Friday at Honey Creek Park.
"This is my first time in my seven years coaching that we just gave up, stopped playing and didn't have the fight in them," Vasquez said. "It wasn't a fitness thing. It was mental."
Fifteen minutes after the game Monroe senior defender Matt Coplien and the rest of the seniors hosted a team meeting after dropping to 3-4. With the win, Sauk Prairie improves to 5-2-1.
"The coaches asked us what kind of team we want to be," said Coplien, who returned after a two-game absence due to a concussion. "They asked if we want to be like the U.S. World Cup team. We talked in the team meeting about the team we want to be. Hopefully, it will push us forward to Stoughton and we can win that first conference game. I think after this talk we can make a run."
The loss may have come at a cost. Monroe sophomore Ryne Miller suffered an injury after a knee-to-knee collision and was forced out of the game in the 81st minute.
"We don't know for sure, but I think it was just a bruise," Vasquez said. "We don't think he tore any tendons. He was still pretty sore after the game. Hopefully, he will be OK after a couple of days of rest."
Sauk Prairie senior Tim Phelps scored a goal at 9 minutes, 49 seconds to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Sauk Prairie senior Benjamin Lenerz scored on an assist from Diego Salazar to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead at 35:44.
Monroe senior goalkeeper Austin Murphy had 11 saves and made several leaping stops.
Murphy said the Cheesemakers are still developing chemistry as a team and must improve communication and not lunging at the ball on defense.
"We have to talk more and stay together as a team," Murphy said.
Sauk Prairie senior Luke Tilkins scored a goal on an assist from Phelps to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead at 46:17. The last goal for the Eagles came on freshman Juan Herrera's corner kick. Herrera lined up for a corner kick facing the Cheesemakers' goal, but he used some back spin to bend the ball off the far post and into the back of the net.
It's those kinds of lucky bounces the Cheesemakers are looking to have go their way when they host Stoughton Friday, Sept. 12. The Cheesemakers had a golden opportunity in the final 15 seconds when junior McKenzy Foley's shot on goal ricocheted off the top cross bar and the Eagles clung to a 2-0 lead at the half.
Vasquez said that was a big opportunity the Cheesemakers didn't cash in on.
"We have been in games before where one goal is all you need to energize everybody," Vasquez said. "Sauk Prairie is a good team. We know we can play at the same level as them."
"This is my first time in my seven years coaching that we just gave up, stopped playing and didn't have the fight in them," Vasquez said. "It wasn't a fitness thing. It was mental."
Fifteen minutes after the game Monroe senior defender Matt Coplien and the rest of the seniors hosted a team meeting after dropping to 3-4. With the win, Sauk Prairie improves to 5-2-1.
"The coaches asked us what kind of team we want to be," said Coplien, who returned after a two-game absence due to a concussion. "They asked if we want to be like the U.S. World Cup team. We talked in the team meeting about the team we want to be. Hopefully, it will push us forward to Stoughton and we can win that first conference game. I think after this talk we can make a run."
The loss may have come at a cost. Monroe sophomore Ryne Miller suffered an injury after a knee-to-knee collision and was forced out of the game in the 81st minute.
"We don't know for sure, but I think it was just a bruise," Vasquez said. "We don't think he tore any tendons. He was still pretty sore after the game. Hopefully, he will be OK after a couple of days of rest."
Sauk Prairie senior Tim Phelps scored a goal at 9 minutes, 49 seconds to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Sauk Prairie senior Benjamin Lenerz scored on an assist from Diego Salazar to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead at 35:44.
Monroe senior goalkeeper Austin Murphy had 11 saves and made several leaping stops.
Murphy said the Cheesemakers are still developing chemistry as a team and must improve communication and not lunging at the ball on defense.
"We have to talk more and stay together as a team," Murphy said.
Sauk Prairie senior Luke Tilkins scored a goal on an assist from Phelps to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead at 46:17. The last goal for the Eagles came on freshman Juan Herrera's corner kick. Herrera lined up for a corner kick facing the Cheesemakers' goal, but he used some back spin to bend the ball off the far post and into the back of the net.
It's those kinds of lucky bounces the Cheesemakers are looking to have go their way when they host Stoughton Friday, Sept. 12. The Cheesemakers had a golden opportunity in the final 15 seconds when junior McKenzy Foley's shot on goal ricocheted off the top cross bar and the Eagles clung to a 2-0 lead at the half.
Vasquez said that was a big opportunity the Cheesemakers didn't cash in on.
"We have been in games before where one goal is all you need to energize everybody," Vasquez said. "Sauk Prairie is a good team. We know we can play at the same level as them."
