MONROE — On the surface, a 10-1 loss doesn’t hold many positives. However, when assessing the Cheesemakers’ performance in a 10-1 loss to DeForest April 8, there are actually multiple reasons to hold out hope.

Monroe’s lineup is young. Very young. There are no seniors, and the roster is split into equal numbers for the juniors, sophomores and freshmen classes.

Secondly, injuries have hampered the Cheesemakers throughout the season, including in the game against DeForest, when Monroe lost its starting goalkeeper — and then his backup — to injury.

Throw in chilly temperatures in the 40s, moderate wind and intermittent rain, and any game can get interesting.

Despite everything working against Monroe, which included facing a school with nearly two-times as many kids to draw into the program, the Cheesemakers held off the seemingly inevitable mercy rule ending and played to a 1-1 mark over the final 35 minutes of the game.

“My favorite thing about this team is that they play together and they stay that way the entire time,” Monroe coach Matt Bodeau.

The Norskies (4-0) opened the game with four goals in the first 16 minutes. By halftime, it was 6-0 in favor of the visitors. In the first three minutes of the second half, DeForest added two more goals to make it 8-0. 

“There’s a number of our players that deserve our gratitude after this game that we can’t repay,” Bodeau said. He specifically thanked Jack Carter, his junior goalkeeper. Several of Monroe’s players are coming off of injuries, but rather than rush them back, Bodeau stuck with his younger depth players, which ultimately meant more balls coming towards Carter in net. “By putting some of those younger guys in — it was my choice to put some of those younger guys in and rest some of the other guys we’ll need in the coming weeks — he paid the price for that, and there is nothing we can do to repay him.”

In the 54th minute, DeForest scored goal No. 9, albeit it with a double-worry for the Cheesemakers. Carter saved the shot on leaping catch, only to come down awkwardly and bounce off the goalpost just enough to lose his balance and allow the ball in arms to cross the goal line. 

Worse yet for Monroe, Carter’s impact with the metal frame caused an injury that took him out of the contest.

Freddy Reyes, a sophomore who had hobbled off the field minutes earlier, replaced Carter in goal and immediately lifted the spirits of his teammates with a couple big saves — and boots down the field.

“Freddy Reyes is going to go down in program history as the only keeper that has zero goals scored on him and 4 or 5 saves,” Bodeau said with a smile.

On one offensive possession moments after play resumed, the Cheesemakers appeared to be a team of seasoned veterans instead of underclassmen. Monroe’s players kept their eyes moving forward on a counterattack, sent multiple perfect passes to each other, and then, in the 58th minute, junior Luis Torres sent an angled shot from 45 yards out and near his own bench, which perfectly found the far top corner net over the high-leap of the Norskies goalie. It was the first score of the year for the Cheesemakers. 

“It was very well placed — over the crossbar is very scary from that distance, and he kept it on frame. He had some other nice ones that he kept low. With the grass being wet, low stuff skips in, so I’m even happier that a nice chipped ball went in as well,” Bodeau said.

The two sides were a goal and two minutes away from the 10-goal mercy rule, but instead continued playing. Reyes himself went down minutes later, and Bodeau plucked Xander Obert off the bench to play keeper. Obert, with experience as a hockey goalie, was immediately challenged in a one-on-one breakaway, and like hockey, closed out on the Norskie shooter, cutting off the angle and forcing a poor shot.

DeForest scored the final goal of the game with just 11 minutes to play. 

The Norskies were whistled for 5 fouls in the contest, and finished with 20 shots on goal. The Cheesemakers committed 9 fouls and had 3 shots on goal. Carter had 14 saves, while Reyes and Obert each finished with 4 saves. 

Bodeau has been pleased with what his team has shown all season — from discipline of sticking with the game plan, to camaraderie and skill development.

“There is a lot to look forward to in the next 2-3 years of Monroe soccer, that’s for sure,” Bodeau said. He said the goal for the team moving forward is simple: Keep playing together and learning from mistakes — and not making them again. He also wants his players to continue to be aggressive on the pitch. “Not being afraid to make mistakes, but learning from them when we do,” Bodeau said.

Sugar River 4, Cambridge-Deerfield 0

BELLEVILLE — The Raiders scored a pair of goals in each half to defeat C-D April 10.

Breckin Faber scored the opening goal of the game in the fourth minute, with Ryan Downing assisting. With less than two minutes to play before halftime, Aiden Hatleberg made it 2-0 Raiders.

In the second half, Faber scored his second of the game, with Gavin Boyum notching the assist. With 21 minutes left in regulation, Downing assisted Boyum’s score. 

The Raiders (2-0-1) outshot Cambridge 11-6.