MONROE — On a wet, windy and rainy night, the Cheesemakers kept it close but could not match Milton in a 4-2 loss May 18 at T.R. Holyoke Field.

“The score wasn’t what we wanted, but the improvement was there today. The girls looked good,” said head coach Samantha Rudi after the game. “We worked on some very specific defensive drills yesterday and they looked great in executing those tonight. It was even an improvement from our last game (a 3-2 win over Lodi), where we looked good. I’m super happy with the team. They soaked everything up like sponges, and they showed improvement.”

The Cheesemakers were coming off their first win in nearly three calendar years and had some momentum. In the 28th minute, Addie Bartholf threw in from about 35 yards out and Megan Benzschawel re-directed with her back leg to the middle of the pitch where a loose ball was collected by Sabrina Hanson, who quickly sent a pass into the 18 box. Benzschawel beat two Milton defenders to the ball at the top corner of the 6-yard box. With a tough angle, just two yards from the end line with the goalie crashing on her, Benzschawel turned her hips even with the goal and grounded a shot beyond the keeper and into the net, giving Monroe a 1-0 lead 27:30 into the game.

The lead didn’t last long, as Milton countered right away and scored just more than 2 minutes later to even it at 1-1 when Savannah Swopes passed a free kick to Taylor Boe at the edge of the box, and Boe used her left foot to sneak a shot by Monroe goalie Kaelyn Welch.

Then, at the 31:33 mark in the first half, Milton scored again on a penalty kick. Monroe’s Maddison Markham dove head first at the edge of the defensive 18, missing the ball. Swopes then flushed the PK past Welch to make it 2-1. 

Little time was wasted yet again, as the Red Hawks made it 3-1 at the 33:26 mark, as Boe used a first touch spin move in the box to get the defender on her back hip, then sent the ball to the back of the net. The score made it three goals for Milton in less than a 4-minute span.

“One thing that has impressed me about this team is that they are always positive, they never complain. They play hard, and they play graciously,” Rudi said.

Monroe got back on the board in the 38th minute, as a handball from 35 yards out gave senior Zoee Pond a free kick opportunity. Pond, a left-footer, went over the wall on her kick, aiming for net. The decision paid off, because while the goalie knocked down the kick, she couldn’t control it. Freshman Addison Bartholf then was Johnny-on-the-spot, crashing down and punching the rebound into the open net for her first varsity goal.

“Zoee’s set pieces are things of dreams. They are all beautiful. She places excellent set pieces, whether they are corners or free kicks,” Rudi said. “Crashing the ball is something we work on, and Addy made the right run, and it paid off for her.”

The teams rolled into halftime with Milton still holding onto a 3-2 advantage. 

In the 61st minute, Milton gained possession on a throw-in from near midfield, and Monroe’s Maddison Markham tried to clear the toss, but instead the ball bounced sideways to the center of the pitch. Milton recovered and Boe crashed into the box, moving from the center to the right post, then kicked back to the left between Pond and Welch and into the net to complete the hat trick.

Monroe had more opportunities to score, but could not find the net. Milton was just the same. In the 78th minute, Swopes had a step on Pond for a rush deep in Monroe’s defense, but Pond knocked her down right on the line of the box, giving Swopes another chance at a penalty kick. This time Welch stopped the shot. Minutes later, Swopes had a free kick from just outside the 18, but Welch caught the ball midflight. 

“That PK save was big time — that was really hard to do for any keeper,” Rudi said. “Kaelyn has really stepped into her role. As a freshman, it’s easy to sit back and be quiet, but you can’t do that as keeper. She’s really stepped up to be a loud voice in the defense. She’s really pushed the defense in the direction we need to go. She’s been a leader already as a freshman, which makes me excited for the next three years.”

The Cheesemakers also were pleased to get sophomore Atziri Ocampo back on the pitch for some minutes. A sophomore M/D, Ocampo brings energy, speed and footwork to the club, but missed the Lodi win with a lower leg injury.

“I wasn’t expecting to have her at all tonight. We gave her limited minutes in short spurts, but she played incredibly when she was out there,” Rudi said. “It means a ton having her and Karlee (Boll) bouncing around there in the middle. They both give me fire for every moment they are in there.”

Monroe was scheduled to play Watertown at T.R. Holyoke Field May 21, with a road game at Monona Grove May 25. The Cheesemakers then were to host a pair of games at Honey Creek Park May 28 against Platteville and June 1 against Edgewood. 

“We’re just going to keep working on the fine points of the game,” Rudi said. “One thing they don’t need to work on is their work ethic and their hustle and attitude — that’s here every game. We’re going to tweak some of the small things from tonight and I know that they will soak it up for Friday.”