MADISON — Sugar River ceded a goal to Edgewood’s Sonoma Bever in the 76th minute, proving to be the game-winner in a 2-1 loss in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal game June 6. 

“We went into the game, saying however this ends, we should have no regrets,” senior Bella Brenkman said. “We played that way, and we worked our butts off. It didn’t work out for us in the end, but at least we all know we worked as hard as we could.”

The Raiders, ranked No. 10 in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll, and the Crusaders, ranked No. 6, had met earlier during the regular season, where Edgewood won 3-1. Despite the loss, Sugar River used the game as a confidence boost.

“This day and age with all the video, everyone is game planning for every game,” Sugar River head coach John Ziperski said. “Seeing them gave us confidence that we can be on the same field as them.”

That energy fueled the Raiders in the opening minutes of the game. After action on the far side of the pitch where neither team gained momentum — with throw-in after throw-in — Sugar River took the first shot on net. Two minutes later, Audry Brueggemann made a through pass to Bella Brenkman, who then centered to Anya Brenkman for a kick right in front of the net. Edgewood keeper Insolia kept the game scoreless, though, with a save.

“Our plan is the first 10 minutes we want to get a goal — we want to push ourselves and the team to get up,” Anya Brenkman said. “Once we get up, we can continue to work together and keep our heads high. That’s when we have the most energy.”

Despite early chances, a Crusader conversion on a corner kick killed all of the Raiders’ momentum. Bever took the corner and connected with Lily Olson, who ran a route through the middle of the defense and scored on a header.

Sugar River attempted to answer in the 20th and 39th minutes. Anya Brenkman took a free kick that sailed over the net. As time wound down in the first half, Insolia came out of net, attempting to beat Anya Brenkman to a loose ball. Anya Brenkman got there first, evaded Isolia, turned and put a shot on goal, but it was deflected up and over the net by a defender.

In the first 10 minutes of the second frame, Raider keeper Addison Lutz kept her team at just a one-goal deficit, getting a hand on two Crusader kicks. The defensive stops led to an offensive push, as Anya Brenkman tied the game with a through-pass assist from Bella Brenkman.

“It gave us a lot of hope,” Anya Brenkman said of the goal. “We are a team that is a family. As soon as we get up, we all get up together.”

The Raiders caught a couple breaks in the following minutes, as a free-kick goal for Edgewood was called off for offsides. Ellie Brenkman then saved a goal that got by Lutz. In the 65th minute, Sugar River turned the ball over in front of its own net, but Edgewood’s ensuing shot sailed over the net.

In the 73rd minute, Hannah Boldebuck had a breakaway down the left side of the pitch. Makayla Foley came across to pick Boldebuck up, and her momentum sent Boldebuck into the Crusader bench for a yellow card. Brueggemann took the free kick that was misplayed by Edgewood’s defense and trickled out of the back end for a corner kick. The Raiders couldn’t convert on the corner, as Insolia made a save from the ground.

“Any set plays we are usually pretty dangerous on,” Bella Brenkman said. “We knew we had to take advantage of those. We were close today, but we couldn’t finish.”

Edgewood nearly scored in the 75th minute on another corner kick, but the Crusader header hit the pipe. Just over a minute later, though, Bever scored the game-winner from 24 yards out, her shot just out of reach for a leaping Lutz.

“If they score that second goal earlier, maybe we have a chance,” Ziperski said. “But when it’s that close to the end of the game, it’s really hard when they can go into prevent mode. The timing was rough — four minutes we are into a new game again. Soccer’s not supposed to be fair. It’s just how it goes. You just hope some day it comes around and it’s not fair for the other team.”

Lutz tallied 16 saves in the loss, adding up to 184 in her career. That mark puts her fifth overall in Sugar River history for all-time saves. Lutz also recorded 35 wins, which is fourth best in the program for career wins.

Anya Brenkman, who had the lone goal, finished her junior campaign with 50 goals on the season. That is third best in the state behind Kenosha St. Joseph’s Ava Rizzitano (60) and Cedar Grove-Belgium’s Cora Erickson (59). The mark is also a new program best for goals in a season, which she set last season with 38. Combined with 13 assists, she had 113 points on the year, which is fourth in the state behind Erickson (135), Rizzitano (129) and Milwaukee King’s Mabel Ciepluch (116). 

Bella Brenkman, who assisted in the lone goal, finished with a team-best 17 assists on the season. That mark, which is tied for 23rd in the state, is also second-best in program history with teammate Jenna Gentilli’s 17 assists in 2023.

The senior class — Lutz, Gentilli, Alice Neton, Carrah Bainbridge, Hailey Thompson, Brooke Warrell, Lily Maynard, Jayce Ace, Sam Frey and Bella Brenkman — compiled a record of 67-16-4 in four seasons, winning four conference and regional titles.

“Sugar River soccer is about family,” Bella Brenkman said of her time as a Raider. “Yes, we focus on the skills, but our bond, bus rides and fun things that happen at boot camp before the season, that’s what makes us our team. We all have fun and are all friends. We are from two rival schools, so being able to come together and play is really important. That’s what Sugar River soccer is all about.”