By Natalie Dillon
ndillon@
themonroetimes.com
MONROE — Change doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly doesn’t happen in a coach’s first season with a new team. But, with Matt Coplien in his second year, Monroe is showing how the little things add up. With their 5-0 win over Portage-Poynette, the Cheesemakers improved to 2-0-2, which is just as successful as they were in all of 2023 with a 2-15-2 record.
“They weren’t successful beforehand. Last year it wasn’t a successful season, either,” Coplien said. “We came out and really made it a purpose to find our game and play our game — do the small things. If we do our job right, success will come. You’re seeing it this season.”
The small things that Coplien has instilled are anticipating passes and intercepting them on defense and following shots on offense. The tactical changes led to results on the field, which led to boosted confidence among the players.
“There’s an overall shift in attitude. We play like winners now,” senior Hudson Davis said.
That attitude change allowed Monroe to set the tone, putting three shots on goal in the first three minutes.The Cheesemakers’ first real scoring opportunity came in the seventh minute, as Osmar Fernadez Sanchez was tripped up by United goalkeeper Zander Olsen just outside the box, resulting in a free kick.
Fernandez Sanchez’s kick went over the United wall on net, but Olsen deflected the shot out of play. The resulting corner kick was cleared.
After more free and corner kicks, Monroe got on the board in the 33rd minute with a goal from Reece Mcintosh. Brock Brandli took the throw-in and led Fernandez Sanchez toward the back line. To save the ball from going out of bounds, Fernandez Sanchez lofted the ball back into the box for a waiting Carsen Bartholf. His shot didn’t get through to the net, but Mcintosh was ready for the rebound and put it in the upper right corner.
Although it took Monroe most of the first half to score, the Cheesemakers attacked early in the second with a goal from Davis just three minutes in.
Seven minutes later, Fernandez Sanchez beat his defender to a loose ball and snuck one in, ricocheting off the right post.
“Os is a goal-scorer,” Coplien said. “He’s struggled the beginning of this season to find it. We were three games in and he hadn’t found a goal. Tonight he did. It’s a confidence builder. He’s the leader of the team offensively. If we can keep working with him, hopefully the floodgates open.”
Back-to-back goals late in the period essentially put the game away. Brandli booted one in from the football 25-yard line, and Jaden Leistiko headed one in off a corner kick.
Nate Richardson picked up the win in goal, shutting out United.
With conference play looming, the Cheesemakers know they need to keep playing their game and doing the little things right.
“Little things add up to big things,” Brandli said. “If we keep doing that, more goals will be on the board and more games will be won.”
