MONROE - On a Friday night when the Monroe girls soccer team was honoring former coach Miriam O'Neill who is battling two rare diseases, it was only fitting the Cheesemakers would roll to a 4-0 win over Dodgeville at T.R. Holyoke Field.
Both Monroe junior Morgan Seffrood and sophomore Emily Benzschawel scored two goals to power the Cheesemakers to the win.
O'Neill, the former Monroe girls soccer coach for 13 years, has myelofibrosis, a blood cancer, and about one year ago was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory muscle disease that affects the muscles and skin. The Monroe varsity and junior varsity soccer teams raised $604 through wristband sales and a 50-50 raffle for O'Neill which will be donated to the myositis fund.
"I know all of the girls worked really hard for the whole 90 minutes," Seffrood said. "I really feel like everyone on the team was touched to have Miriam there. It inspired a lot of us during the game."
It also marked the Monroe girls soccer team's first home game on the football field.
"It was a game for the entire team," Seffrood said. "It was special night for everyone and I know everyone really wanted to give their all tonight."
Monroe junior Olivia Werth had two assists. Monroe (1-1) took advantage of an opportune bounce to take an early lead.
Dodgeville goalie Katie Valeria slid and kicked the ball out of the box and it ricocheted off Benzschawel's stomach and into the net to give the Cheesemakers a 1-0 lead at 18 minutes, 17 seconds.
"It was amazing," Benzschawel said. "It was good that it went off my stomach. Any goal is a good goal."
About 3 minutes later, Seffrood scored a goal on an assist by freshman Alexa Bader to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead. The Cheesemakers outshot the Dodgers on shots on goal 14-9.
"It's not about scoring or the number of goals," Monroe coach Kyle Kasten said. "It's about working on the principles the coaching staff is teaching them. They are learning how to play team soccer and it's a beautiful thing to see. It's what you want to see as a coach. Our spacing from the first half against Sparta to the first half tonight we really excelled. Our spacing from the first half to the second half was even better. They are really making the adjustments at a fast pace from half to half."
Monroe sophomore goalie Anna Latimer had nine saves and recorded the shutout.
The Cheesemakers extended their lead in the second half. Seffrood scored her second goal on a pass from Werth at 46:57 to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead. Werth then put a powerful shot on the goal that popped away from Valeria. Benzschawel was there on the back post to punch in the final goal at 57:20.
Benzschawel understood the significance of the game was much more than getting the team's first win. She wanted to honor O'Neill.
"It was huge to see her," Benzschawel said of her former coach O'Neill. "She's such a strong individual and to see her was special for our whole team."
Monroe will host Reedsburg in a nonconference game at 6:45 p.m. Friday at T.R. Holyoke Field. It will be youth soccer night. Any youth soccer players who wear their jerseys will have free admission and will get to lineup with the varsity players and walk onto the field during introductions and stand with them during the National Anthem.
Kasten said after the game, Monroe varsity soccer players will sign autographs.
Both Monroe junior Morgan Seffrood and sophomore Emily Benzschawel scored two goals to power the Cheesemakers to the win.
O'Neill, the former Monroe girls soccer coach for 13 years, has myelofibrosis, a blood cancer, and about one year ago was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory muscle disease that affects the muscles and skin. The Monroe varsity and junior varsity soccer teams raised $604 through wristband sales and a 50-50 raffle for O'Neill which will be donated to the myositis fund.
"I know all of the girls worked really hard for the whole 90 minutes," Seffrood said. "I really feel like everyone on the team was touched to have Miriam there. It inspired a lot of us during the game."
It also marked the Monroe girls soccer team's first home game on the football field.
"It was a game for the entire team," Seffrood said. "It was special night for everyone and I know everyone really wanted to give their all tonight."
Monroe junior Olivia Werth had two assists. Monroe (1-1) took advantage of an opportune bounce to take an early lead.
Dodgeville goalie Katie Valeria slid and kicked the ball out of the box and it ricocheted off Benzschawel's stomach and into the net to give the Cheesemakers a 1-0 lead at 18 minutes, 17 seconds.
"It was amazing," Benzschawel said. "It was good that it went off my stomach. Any goal is a good goal."
About 3 minutes later, Seffrood scored a goal on an assist by freshman Alexa Bader to give the Cheesemakers a 2-0 lead. The Cheesemakers outshot the Dodgers on shots on goal 14-9.
"It's not about scoring or the number of goals," Monroe coach Kyle Kasten said. "It's about working on the principles the coaching staff is teaching them. They are learning how to play team soccer and it's a beautiful thing to see. It's what you want to see as a coach. Our spacing from the first half against Sparta to the first half tonight we really excelled. Our spacing from the first half to the second half was even better. They are really making the adjustments at a fast pace from half to half."
Monroe sophomore goalie Anna Latimer had nine saves and recorded the shutout.
The Cheesemakers extended their lead in the second half. Seffrood scored her second goal on a pass from Werth at 46:57 to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead. Werth then put a powerful shot on the goal that popped away from Valeria. Benzschawel was there on the back post to punch in the final goal at 57:20.
Benzschawel understood the significance of the game was much more than getting the team's first win. She wanted to honor O'Neill.
"It was huge to see her," Benzschawel said of her former coach O'Neill. "She's such a strong individual and to see her was special for our whole team."
Monroe will host Reedsburg in a nonconference game at 6:45 p.m. Friday at T.R. Holyoke Field. It will be youth soccer night. Any youth soccer players who wear their jerseys will have free admission and will get to lineup with the varsity players and walk onto the field during introductions and stand with them during the National Anthem.
Kasten said after the game, Monroe varsity soccer players will sign autographs.
