MONROE - Senior midfielder Ben Murray scored a game-tying goal and he thought that would be the spark the Cheesemakers needed against Madison Edgewood on Thursday at Honey Creek Park.
"After the shot, I thought the momentum was kind of on our side," Murray said. "We just lost the momentum after that second goal."
Madison Edgewood's Nicholas Wiese scored one goal and had one assist to propel the Crusaders to a 3-2 win.
Monroe senior Jesse Keizer's shot on goal ricocheted off the goalkeeper and Murray was there to follow it up, scoring the game-tying goal at 40 minutes, 26 seconds.
"We were attacking the ball hard," Murray said. "We just couldn't put it in the back of the net."
The Crusaders jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Andrew Sotis scored a goal on an assist from Wiese at 8:47. Wiese scored a goal at 56:19 to help the Crusaders regain the lead. Edgewood's Evan Findlater then added a second-half goal to extend the Crusaders' lead to 3-1.
Monroe sophomore Kevin Noriega then scored on a header that just slipped past the goalkeeper.
"When it was in the air, I knew I would get it," Noriega said. "I just went as hard as I could because it was Senior Night. I didn't want to let the seniors down. It was good to score, but I wish we could have won."
The Cheesemakers had a golden opportunity with an indirect kick in the second half, but couldn't cash in.
"We just have to get better as a team," Murray said. "We have to not give up and keep playing until the final whistle."
Monroe played without junior Taylor Teasdale. Teasdale is still recovering from a concussion he suffered at Dodgeville. Playing without Teasdale, the team's No. 2 leading scorer, has been an adjustment for the Cheesemakers.
Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said depth has been a problem for the Cheesemakers this year.
"When we get an injury it shows," Vasquez said. "Taylor is tough on defense and he is a part of our offense."
Vasquez said Teasdale is hoping to return for the next game on Tuesday at Fort Atkinson.
"I was really happy with the way they pushed near the end," Vasquez said. "We had some communication problems and missed opportunities. We had opportunities we can't waste."
Noriega echoed his coach's sentiments.
"We just had slip-ups on defense," Noriega said. "That is what made the difference. We had some opportunities. We just didn't finish."
"After the shot, I thought the momentum was kind of on our side," Murray said. "We just lost the momentum after that second goal."
Madison Edgewood's Nicholas Wiese scored one goal and had one assist to propel the Crusaders to a 3-2 win.
Monroe senior Jesse Keizer's shot on goal ricocheted off the goalkeeper and Murray was there to follow it up, scoring the game-tying goal at 40 minutes, 26 seconds.
"We were attacking the ball hard," Murray said. "We just couldn't put it in the back of the net."
The Crusaders jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Andrew Sotis scored a goal on an assist from Wiese at 8:47. Wiese scored a goal at 56:19 to help the Crusaders regain the lead. Edgewood's Evan Findlater then added a second-half goal to extend the Crusaders' lead to 3-1.
Monroe sophomore Kevin Noriega then scored on a header that just slipped past the goalkeeper.
"When it was in the air, I knew I would get it," Noriega said. "I just went as hard as I could because it was Senior Night. I didn't want to let the seniors down. It was good to score, but I wish we could have won."
The Cheesemakers had a golden opportunity with an indirect kick in the second half, but couldn't cash in.
"We just have to get better as a team," Murray said. "We have to not give up and keep playing until the final whistle."
Monroe played without junior Taylor Teasdale. Teasdale is still recovering from a concussion he suffered at Dodgeville. Playing without Teasdale, the team's No. 2 leading scorer, has been an adjustment for the Cheesemakers.
Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said depth has been a problem for the Cheesemakers this year.
"When we get an injury it shows," Vasquez said. "Taylor is tough on defense and he is a part of our offense."
Vasquez said Teasdale is hoping to return for the next game on Tuesday at Fort Atkinson.
"I was really happy with the way they pushed near the end," Vasquez said. "We had some communication problems and missed opportunities. We had opportunities we can't waste."
Noriega echoed his coach's sentiments.
"We just had slip-ups on defense," Noriega said. "That is what made the difference. We had some opportunities. We just didn't finish."
