MONROE — After a mistake that led to a first-half goal, Monroe goalkeeper Nate Richardson shut out Platteville in the second half, leading to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 10.
“I’ve been told goalkeeping is 75% mental and 25% physical. The moment after that mistake, you have to get it out of your head and keep moving or you’ll keep making more mistakes,” Richardson said. “I just came into that second half with a clean slate and got to work.”
With the win, Monroe improves to 2-0-3, which is already better than its 2-15-2 record in 2023. What’s more is Platteville (2-2-2) is no slouch of a team. The Hillmen won the Southwest Wisconsin Conference last season and in their 2024 opener, drew 1-1 with Evansville, who is now ranked No. 5 in Division 3.
“We just tied a team that tied the No. 5 team in the state,” Monroe head coach Matt Coplien said. “We can do anything, too. We are going to be a dangerous team. We just have to keep doing the small things and working hard.”
Both teams had scoring chances early on. At the five-minute mark, Platteville took a corner kick. Alex Gomez Lopez connected with Jesus Mendez Garcia on the back side for a header, but Richardson was there to make the save.
Just three minutes later, Brock Brandli led Gavin Denure with a throw-in. Platteville goalkeeper Alex Gruber dove out of the net to make the initial save from Denure’s shot, but Graysan Bartholf and Reece Mcintosh was there to crash on the rebound. The Hillmen defense didn’t allow a second shot to get off before clearing the ball.
Momentum began to shift toward Platteville midway through the first period. Harper Schuhmacher took a shot at the edge of the box that hit the far pipe and ricocheted onto the foot of Michael Murphy. With Richardson sprawled out on the ground to make the initial save, Murphy had a wide-open net, but his rebound went right into the gut of Richardson.
The Hillmen appeared to score in the 22nd minute off a throw-in, but PJ Knoernschild’s kick hit the bottom of the football goal post and landed on top of the net.
Platteville didn’t break through until the 26th minute on a free ball that resulted from a hand ball. From 30 yards out, Michael Murphy slipped one by Richardson, who came out of net to attempt the save.
“He was a little questionable on his choices. That’s going to happen when you see people that can shoot from 30 yards out, which Platteville can,” Coplien said. “It took him a little adjusting to find those saves. He made the saves later in the game.”
The one-goal lead held until halftime, despite a game-tying breakaway opportunity for Mcintosh.
But it took Monroe less than two minutes in the second period to respond. Brandli, off yet another throw-in, led Hudson Davis down the middle, where he beat the goalie to the ball and chipped it over his head for the game-tying goal.
“That’s been us all season. Our motto is, don’t get punched in the mouth first, and if we do, we punch back immediately,” Coplien said. “Brock is our Swiss army knife — he can play defense, he can be in on headers. We use a throw-in as a set piece. High school kids struggle to defend set pieces, so if we can keep scoring goals off it, we’re going to keep doing it.”
To make sure the score held, Richardson was strong in net. He made several critical saves, including one in the 62nd minute that robbed Murphy of yet another goal. His breakaway shot hit the left pipe and ricocheted toward the back of the net, but Richardson was able to stop it just before crossing the goal line. In the final five minutes alone, with the game on the line, Richardson recorded three saves as other Hillmen shots just missed the net.
“It’s just ball out of the net, ball out of the net,” Richardson said of the final minutes. “It’s a great defense. I’ve had games this year where I’ve touched the ball maybe three times. My full trust is in them.”
With the draw, Monroe enters Rock Valley Conference play yet undefeated. After tying with Platteville, who already tied with Evansville, the Cheesemakers enter league play confident. They will be tested early, though, playing the Trojans of East Troy. Last season, East Troy blanked Monroe 7-0.
“East Troy wasn’t a great game last year. We are coming into it with the same mentality of getting ready to work,” Richardson said. “We hang with these guys (Platteville), we are hanging with anyone.”
SUGAR RIVER 3, RIVER VALLEY 0
SPRING GREEN — Since losing their season opening game to Fort Atkinson 2-0, Sugar River has been on a roll. The Raiders have won their last five games — two of them by PKs — including their latest, a 3-0 victory over the Blackhawks Sept. 10.
Nathan Hendrickson put Sugar River on the board with a goal in the 24th minute. Nearing the end of the first frame, Tikeh Tazeh scored on a PK. The third goal was an own goal by River Valley. Clayton Streiff earned the win in net, tallying three saves.
