DELAVAN - Missed scoring opportunities haunted the Monroe boys soccer team in a 4-1 loss to Delavan-Darien in a WIAA Division 3 regional quarterfinal Tuesday, Oct. 15.
The Cheesemakers (7-13-1) had three shots hit the post in the second half and a couple that crossed an open goal.
"The chances were there," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "I'm sure we out-shot them in the second half. We knew they would be tough. We just couldn't take advantage of the opportunities we had. It's a little disappointing."
Delavan-Darien scored two goals in the first half to take a 2-0 lead. Monroe junior Kevin Noriega put the Cheesemakers on the board with a goal at 31:14 to cut the deficit to 2-1 at the half.
"We were right in the game," Vasquez said. "We had kind of captured the momentum going into the half. We were given opportunities in front of the goal. We just didn't finish them."
The Comets scored two more goals in the second half. Monroe junior Austin Murphy had seven saves.
"We made some mistakes in the second half and they capitalized on them," Vasquez said. "We had our opportunities."
Sugar River 3, Evansville 1
BELLVILLE - The Raiders had their typical slow start before turning up the intensity to overtake Evansville at home.
Nathaniel Sanders had two goals and Travis Loeffelholz got the assist on all three Sugar River (13-5-2, 8-1 Capitol South) scores. Zach Cresswell had Evansville's lone goal on a free kick that found a friendly wind gust. Two minutes after Sanders' first goal, Jonathan Fuchs put Sugar River ahead to stay.
"Fuchs literally fought through four guys and headed it just past the goalie's outstretched hand," Sugar River coach Richard Sanders said.
"It was a great effort from our 'Magnificent Seven.'"
The nickname refers to the team's seven seniors, who Sanders said was the real difference in the game.
"Every time there was a decisive moment, there was a senior's foot behind it," Sanders said. "When we're behind we rely on that senior leadership to carry us through."
The Cheesemakers (7-13-1) had three shots hit the post in the second half and a couple that crossed an open goal.
"The chances were there," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "I'm sure we out-shot them in the second half. We knew they would be tough. We just couldn't take advantage of the opportunities we had. It's a little disappointing."
Delavan-Darien scored two goals in the first half to take a 2-0 lead. Monroe junior Kevin Noriega put the Cheesemakers on the board with a goal at 31:14 to cut the deficit to 2-1 at the half.
"We were right in the game," Vasquez said. "We had kind of captured the momentum going into the half. We were given opportunities in front of the goal. We just didn't finish them."
The Comets scored two more goals in the second half. Monroe junior Austin Murphy had seven saves.
"We made some mistakes in the second half and they capitalized on them," Vasquez said. "We had our opportunities."
Sugar River 3, Evansville 1
BELLVILLE - The Raiders had their typical slow start before turning up the intensity to overtake Evansville at home.
Nathaniel Sanders had two goals and Travis Loeffelholz got the assist on all three Sugar River (13-5-2, 8-1 Capitol South) scores. Zach Cresswell had Evansville's lone goal on a free kick that found a friendly wind gust. Two minutes after Sanders' first goal, Jonathan Fuchs put Sugar River ahead to stay.
"Fuchs literally fought through four guys and headed it just past the goalie's outstretched hand," Sugar River coach Richard Sanders said.
"It was a great effort from our 'Magnificent Seven.'"
The nickname refers to the team's seven seniors, who Sanders said was the real difference in the game.
"Every time there was a decisive moment, there was a senior's foot behind it," Sanders said. "When we're behind we rely on that senior leadership to carry us through."
