MONROE - Records don't mean much on a soccer field. That may be Monroe boys soccer coach Tony Vasquez's rallying cry after Monona Grove shut down the Cheesemakers 2-0 on Thursday at Honey Creek Park.
The Silver Eagles came into the game with just one win.
"They underestimated them," Vasquez said of his team's preparation for Monona Grove. "They were talking before the game like this would be an easy game. It was obvious that we started out slow and thought it would be easy to win. We can't take things for granted and expect to walk over a team."
The Silver Eagles got off to a fast start when Alex Castaneda scored a header goal on a cross from Danny Mussie at 1 minute, 26 seconds. The Cheesemakers (4-2-1, 1-1 Badger South) out-shot the Silver Eagles 11-7, but cash in on any opportunities.
Monroe sophomore Kevin Noriega had two shots on goal in the second half including a header at 45:46, but the Cheesemakers couldn't punch it in. Noriega also just missed on a shot to the near post at 55:15.
"In the second half, we started out strong," Noriega said. "We could just never connect. I liked our chances. I thought we would get one. It wasn't our day. We have to come back stronger."
The Cheesemakers also had three corner kicks in the second half but couldn't get a shot on goal on any of the opportunities.
"We have set plays and we have to execute," Noriega said of the corner kicks. "We got close. We could never get a shot off like we wanted to."
Noriega agreed with Vasquez's assessment that the Cheesemakers may have overlooked the Silver Eagles.
"I think as a team we may have took them lightly and thought we would win," Noriega said. "After that first goal we didn't get into a rhythm to beat them."
Monona Grove's Zach Hilliard scored a breakaway goal late in the second half to seal it.
"(We) played better in the second half," Vasquez said. "We were playing from behind and you are always at a disadvantage. The team with the lead can just play more relaxed, clear the ball and run the clock down."
Monroe senior goalkeeper Lucas Koch had six saves.
Vasquez said the Cheesemakers need to keep practicing on their shots on goal.
"They just need to relax and practice more," he said. "We have to keep (our shots) down."
The Silver Eagles came into the game with just one win.
"They underestimated them," Vasquez said of his team's preparation for Monona Grove. "They were talking before the game like this would be an easy game. It was obvious that we started out slow and thought it would be easy to win. We can't take things for granted and expect to walk over a team."
The Silver Eagles got off to a fast start when Alex Castaneda scored a header goal on a cross from Danny Mussie at 1 minute, 26 seconds. The Cheesemakers (4-2-1, 1-1 Badger South) out-shot the Silver Eagles 11-7, but cash in on any opportunities.
Monroe sophomore Kevin Noriega had two shots on goal in the second half including a header at 45:46, but the Cheesemakers couldn't punch it in. Noriega also just missed on a shot to the near post at 55:15.
"In the second half, we started out strong," Noriega said. "We could just never connect. I liked our chances. I thought we would get one. It wasn't our day. We have to come back stronger."
The Cheesemakers also had three corner kicks in the second half but couldn't get a shot on goal on any of the opportunities.
"We have set plays and we have to execute," Noriega said of the corner kicks. "We got close. We could never get a shot off like we wanted to."
Noriega agreed with Vasquez's assessment that the Cheesemakers may have overlooked the Silver Eagles.
"I think as a team we may have took them lightly and thought we would win," Noriega said. "After that first goal we didn't get into a rhythm to beat them."
Monona Grove's Zach Hilliard scored a breakaway goal late in the second half to seal it.
"(We) played better in the second half," Vasquez said. "We were playing from behind and you are always at a disadvantage. The team with the lead can just play more relaxed, clear the ball and run the clock down."
Monroe senior goalkeeper Lucas Koch had six saves.
Vasquez said the Cheesemakers need to keep practicing on their shots on goal.
"They just need to relax and practice more," he said. "We have to keep (our shots) down."
