MONROE — Monroe dropped its home opener to Cambridge-Deerfield, 6-1, on Tuesday, Aug. 29, as United got on the board in the first four minutes and never looked back.
“I think we are trying to find our game,” Monroe head coach Matt Coplien said. “We are all on the same page that we can’t allow teams to jump us first anymore. We have to be the aggressor from the start. It’s still early, and there is plenty of time for us to right this ship. We just have to do it now.”
Although the Cheesemakers had an early scoring opportunity, putting a shot on goal in the first two minutes, Cambridge-Deerfield ultimately took the 1-0 lead. Ben Wetzel beat his defender outside, dribbled deep into the box and found the back of the net.
United extended its lead to 2-0 with four minutes left in the half, as the ball slipped passed diving keeper Hudson Davis.
“The boys have had a rough go at it the last few seasons. I feel when an opponent scores first, it’s second nature for them to dip their heads,” Coplien said. “As a new culture, we are attempting to break that bad habit.”
Monroe wasn’t without its own scoring opportunities, though. Midway through the half, Matthew Setterstrom had a shot blocked. He got his own rebound and fired another kick — this time too high.
Ten minutes later, Trent Wyss chased after the ball on a breakaway and collided with United’s keeper. The contact warranted a penalty kick, taken by Brock Brandli, as Wyss was helped off the field by the trainer. Brandli’s kick hit the top post, and Cambridge-Deerfield was able to clear it.
“Our hustle throughout the game gave us a lot of chances to finish,” Coplien said. “At the end of the day, we have to finish when those opportunities arise.”
Just two minutes into the second half, United extended its lead to 3-0. Davis got a leg on the ball, but it had enough force behind it find the back of the net. With a three-goal deficit, Coplien elected to switch goalies. In the first 40 seconds of play, backup goalie Nate Richardson made a save.
The remaining three United goals came on penalty kicks — one in the 53rd minute, another in the 65th minute and the final goal with 52 seconds left in the game. While Coplien applauds his team’s physicality, he urges them to be smart about it.
“Our identity is starting to shift as a physical team, which I think is great,” Coplien said. “However, we have to be better on knowing when to throw the body around.”
The Cheesemakers avoided the shutout with a goal in the 57th minute. Carsen Bartholf took a free kick and found Shawn Van Dyk in the front of the net. Van Dyk jumped above his defender and headed the ball in for a goal.
“Shawn Van Dyk provided a huge spark by scoring a goal and giving us fresh legs on the defensive,” Coplien said. “I was super pleased with how he performed tonight.”
Monroe has two more nonconference games before its Rock Valley opener at East Troy on Thursday, Sept. 7.
SUGAR RIVER 2, EVANSVILLE 0
EVANSVILLE — The Raider-Blue Devil rivalry added its latest chapter on Tuesday, Aug. 29 with a 2-0 victory for Sugar River. In the last six years, including 2023, Sugar River has posted a 3-1-2 record against Evansville, each game within three goals or less.
Thirty minutes into the game, Tikeh Tazeh broke the stalemate with a goal. In the second half, Reid Nolden put the game away with an assist from Alvaro Perez. The Raider offense put 19 shots on goal, while the Blue Devils managed five shots on goal. Keeper Clayton Streiff stopped all five shots to record the shutout.
