MONROE — Since winning its first game against Janesville Parker and tying with Wisconsin Heights, the Monroe soccer team has fallen into a slump, going 0-4-1 in its last five games. In a two-day span, the Cheesemakers dropped games to Fort Atkinson (4-1) and Delavan-Darien (8-0).
“At the end of the day, we were just out played,” Monroe head coach Matt Coplien said. “That’s on us as a program, and it will get fixed so it doesn’t happen again.”
On Monday, Monroe came out uncharacteristically hot against Fort Atkinson. The Cheesemakers, who have given up goals within the first five minutes of games, had the first shot on goal in the second minute. Carson Buholzer connected with Caleb Figi, whose header was saved by Blackhawk keeper Payton Wiesen.
Matthew Setterstrom had a shot go wide in the seventh minute. A minute later, his centering pass to Osmar Fernandez Sanchez in the box was too strong, sailing out of bounds.
“I think the start to our game Monday night was better,” Coplien said. “As a team, we need to learn to maintain that momentum. It’s really frustrating when decent looks either don’t get on net or they are saved.”
As the half continued, the Cheesemakers slowly ceded momentum to the Blackhawks. Monroe goalie Nate Richardson made a save in the 12th minute, but 51 seconds later, Mason Burke’s shot found the back of the net. Burke extended Fort Atkinson’s lead to 2-0 with a breakaway goal in the 15th minute.
The Blackhawks could have had a greater lead if it weren’t for key saves from Richardson. Burke put another shot on goal from outside the box, but Richardson timed his jump to tip the ball over the net. On the ensuing corner kick, Richardson went to his knees for another save.
Fort Atkinson had a golden scoring opportunity in the 26th minute, as Burke’s shot hit the top post, bounced off Richardson’s chest, hit the post again and went over the net. The Blackhawks kept the pressure on, scoring shortly after on a goal from Caleb Enger.
In the final seconds of the half, Monroe had a surge of energy. The Cheesemakers took a corner, but Wiesen came out of net to make a save.
The momentum carried into the second half, where Figi had another header on net — saved yet again by Wiesen. The Cheesemakers nearly scored in the 50th minute, but not on their own accord. Wiesen attempted to clear the ball but whiffed on the kick. Luckily for Fort Atkinson, the ball tricked wide of the net. On the subsequent corner, Wiesen saved Hudson Davis’s shot.
The Blackhawks took a 4-0 lead in the 54th minute, as Burke’s shot slipped through Richardson’s five-hole.
Monroe avoided the shutout with a goal from Fernandez Sanchez. A handball on the Blackhawks resulted in a free kick for Monroe. Fernandez Sanchez’s kick found the top left corner, as the Cheesemakers trailed 4-1.
In the final minute, Fernandez Sanchez had another free-kick opportunity, but his kick sailed over the net.
The following day, Monroe fell to Delavan-Darien 8-0. The Cheesemakers honored their seniors Will Richardson, Hassan Mustafa, Parker Nall and Buholzer.
