MONROE - The Monroe High School girls soccer team starts its postseason adventure tonight.
The Cheesemakers will begin their quest without coach Miriam O'Neill though. O'Neill has missed four games due to dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory muscle disease that affects the muscles and skin. She spent one week at UW Hospital and is going through rehabilitation in Madison.
She's been keeping an eye on the Cheesemakers, who open the WIAA Division 3 regional with a game at Lodi at 7 p.m. today. Monroe (9-7-4) defeated Lodi, the Capitol Conference champion, 1-0 earlier this season.
"I'm not ruling out a return to coach a soccer match," O'Neill said of her postseason plans. "The autoimmune disease really hit me hard. I couldn't walk or move. I'm walking more now."
Monroe assistant coach Curt Zastrow is looking forward to the rematch against Lodi even though the Cheesemakers have had some season-ending injuries.
"I think if we do the small details, come out with good energy, and don't let people turn, I think we will find at the end of the game we will like the result," Zastrow said.
Three of the eight teams in Monroe's half of the Mount Horeb sectional are ranked in the top five in the state. Sugar River (19-2-2), ranked No. 3 in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Division 3 state poll, will host Edgerton in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. today. The other ranked teams are Madison Edgewood (fourth) and Mount Horeb (fifth).
"I told the girls we have to have the mentality that the seed is a reward for the season we have had," Sugar River coach John Ziperski said. "I don't think anyone is taking anything for granted."
One of the Raiders' losses came to Lodi 1-0. Sugar River defeated Monroe 3-1 and Madison Edgewood 2-0 but both were challenging matchups.
"I don't think anyone is looking at us as the team to beat," Ziperski said. "I don't think there are many other teams scared to play Sugar River in our region."
The Raiders have lost in the sectional semifinals the past two years. Sugar River lost to Madison Edgewood 2-1 last year and to Mount Horeb two years ago.
Sugar River has 13 shutouts this year, and the Raiders are allowing just 0.91 goals per game. However, nine of the goals the Raiders gave up came in a 9-1 loss to top-ranked Notre Dame. That means the Raiders have given up just 12 goals in 22 other games or 0.54 goals per game.
"I think our best strength has been our defense," Ziperski said.
The Raiders have relied on defenders in seniors Hannah Jones, Abbi Lahey and sophomore Aimee Sies.
"I think all three have been strong and consistent defenders," Ziperski said. "They have really been solid in the back."
The Raiders are averaging 3.5 goals per game. Sugar River senior Vanessa Narveson leads the Raiders with 25 goals this season. Senior Brooke Larson has 16 goals, and senior midfielder Taylor Legler has five goals and 16 assists.
"I've been proud of our offense," Ziperski said. "When we have given up a goal we have been able to rally and overcome it. We don't want to put all of the pressure on Vanessa. We have other cast members who are very dangerous."
The Cheesemakers will begin their quest without coach Miriam O'Neill though. O'Neill has missed four games due to dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory muscle disease that affects the muscles and skin. She spent one week at UW Hospital and is going through rehabilitation in Madison.
She's been keeping an eye on the Cheesemakers, who open the WIAA Division 3 regional with a game at Lodi at 7 p.m. today. Monroe (9-7-4) defeated Lodi, the Capitol Conference champion, 1-0 earlier this season.
"I'm not ruling out a return to coach a soccer match," O'Neill said of her postseason plans. "The autoimmune disease really hit me hard. I couldn't walk or move. I'm walking more now."
Monroe assistant coach Curt Zastrow is looking forward to the rematch against Lodi even though the Cheesemakers have had some season-ending injuries.
"I think if we do the small details, come out with good energy, and don't let people turn, I think we will find at the end of the game we will like the result," Zastrow said.
Three of the eight teams in Monroe's half of the Mount Horeb sectional are ranked in the top five in the state. Sugar River (19-2-2), ranked No. 3 in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Division 3 state poll, will host Edgerton in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. today. The other ranked teams are Madison Edgewood (fourth) and Mount Horeb (fifth).
"I told the girls we have to have the mentality that the seed is a reward for the season we have had," Sugar River coach John Ziperski said. "I don't think anyone is taking anything for granted."
One of the Raiders' losses came to Lodi 1-0. Sugar River defeated Monroe 3-1 and Madison Edgewood 2-0 but both were challenging matchups.
"I don't think anyone is looking at us as the team to beat," Ziperski said. "I don't think there are many other teams scared to play Sugar River in our region."
The Raiders have lost in the sectional semifinals the past two years. Sugar River lost to Madison Edgewood 2-1 last year and to Mount Horeb two years ago.
Sugar River has 13 shutouts this year, and the Raiders are allowing just 0.91 goals per game. However, nine of the goals the Raiders gave up came in a 9-1 loss to top-ranked Notre Dame. That means the Raiders have given up just 12 goals in 22 other games or 0.54 goals per game.
"I think our best strength has been our defense," Ziperski said.
The Raiders have relied on defenders in seniors Hannah Jones, Abbi Lahey and sophomore Aimee Sies.
"I think all three have been strong and consistent defenders," Ziperski said. "They have really been solid in the back."
The Raiders are averaging 3.5 goals per game. Sugar River senior Vanessa Narveson leads the Raiders with 25 goals this season. Senior Brooke Larson has 16 goals, and senior midfielder Taylor Legler has five goals and 16 assists.
"I've been proud of our offense," Ziperski said. "When we have given up a goal we have been able to rally and overcome it. We don't want to put all of the pressure on Vanessa. We have other cast members who are very dangerous."
