MADISON — With his seventh hat trick of the season senior Aiden Hatleberg lifted Sugar River past La Crosse Logan 3-0 in a WIAA Division 3 regional final on Saturday, Oct. 21.
“We’ve put in so much work this year and the results are finally showing,” Hatleberg said.
Sugar River advanced to the regional final with a 6-1 win over Jefferson on Thursday, Oct. 19., where Hatleberg also had a hat trick.
The UW-Platteville commit put Sugar River on the board against La Crosse Logan in the 18th minute with a pass from Alvaro Perez. Despite four defenders crowding him inside the box, Hatleberg got a shot off that found the back of the net.
“They were pretty packed in (the box) but we just tried chipping over the top and feeding through balls,” Hatleberg said. “It ended up working out.”
Sugar River kept the pressure on, as Brycen Teasdale’s header pass hit Hatleberg in stride. His kick sailed over the net, but in the 26th minute, Hatleberg extended the Raiders’ lead with another goal inside the box.
Although La Crosse Logan had scoring chances late in the first half, the Rangers were unable to cash in on their opportunities.
Eight minutes into the second frame, Teasdale nearly notched his own goal. Ranger goalie Gabe Sanders made a diving save, leading to a Raider corner kick. The initial play was stopped, but Brady Mousseau gained possession of the ball at the edge of the box. His ensuing kick sailed over the net.
In the 51st minute, Breckyn Thompson appeared to take a normal throw in from the left side. He found Hatleberg, who let one rip on a second touch. The ball curved over Sanders’ shoulder and into the top right corner, completing Hatleberg’s hat trick.
La Crosse Logan’s greatest scoring chance came in the 73rd minute, where the Rangers were awarded a free kick. Sugar River’s wall of Perez, Thompson and Jack Leonard stopped the initial shot, but the Rangers put a second shot on goal. Goalkeeper Clayton Streiff timed his jump perfectly and tipped the ball over the net.
The save ensured a shutout — Sugar River’s ninth of the season. Streiff has 0.31 goals against average this year.
“During the game, I don’t think of shutouts,” Streiff said. “As long as the ball doesn’t go in the net, that’s what I’m there for. The defense does a great job limiting shots on me.”
With the win, the Raiders claimed their second straight regional title. Minutes after the celebration, No. 3 Sugar River learned it would host the sectional semifinal, as rival No. 7 McFarland upset No. 2 Wisconsin Dells in overtime.
Sugar River and McFarland met earlier this season, where the Raiders ended a 20-year losing streak to the Spartans with a 5-1 win. In six of the last seven years, though, McFarland has ended Sugar River’s postseason run.
“We have history with them,” Sugar River head coach Bob Gentilli said. “But, we will play our game. We aren’t going to let them dictate anything.We are confident in the way that we are playing — moving the ball and protecting our net.”
EDGERTON 11, MONROE 1
EDGERTON — Monroe fell to No. 3-ranked Edgerton 11-1 in its regional semifinal game on Thursday, Oct. 19. The Cheesemakers finished their season 2-15-2 with their first playoff victory since 2016.
