MONROE - Sophomore Nick Schumacher scored two goals to propel the Monroe High School boys soccer team to a 2-1 win over Lodi in a WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal on Thursday at Honey Creek Park.
Both goals by Schumacher came on headers. The first goal by Schumacher came off a direct kick by senior Atticus Pond at 39 minutes, 46 seconds.
"We tell kids to always make themselves big," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "He had his arms out and was able to take up as much space as he could. Nick was able to outmuscle his defender. He was able to get up and just deflect it with the side of his head. He didn't try to do too much with it. He just caught the goalie off guard. When you are in that 6-yard box (goalie area) it's hard to move."
Monroe (7-10-1) advances to a regional championship game and will play at second-seeded McFarland at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Monroe sophomore goalkeeper Devan Schulte had eight saves.
The Blue Devils came back and tied the game in the second half.
Schumacher scored the winning goal on another direct kick by Pond on a header at 86:58 to give the Cheesemakers the win.
"Lodi has had an up-and-down year," Vasquez said. "They came out and played one of their best games. We just managed to out-fight them to get the win and move on."
Both goals by Schumacher came on headers. The first goal by Schumacher came off a direct kick by senior Atticus Pond at 39 minutes, 46 seconds.
"We tell kids to always make themselves big," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "He had his arms out and was able to take up as much space as he could. Nick was able to outmuscle his defender. He was able to get up and just deflect it with the side of his head. He didn't try to do too much with it. He just caught the goalie off guard. When you are in that 6-yard box (goalie area) it's hard to move."
Monroe (7-10-1) advances to a regional championship game and will play at second-seeded McFarland at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Monroe sophomore goalkeeper Devan Schulte had eight saves.
The Blue Devils came back and tied the game in the second half.
Schumacher scored the winning goal on another direct kick by Pond on a header at 86:58 to give the Cheesemakers the win.
"Lodi has had an up-and-down year," Vasquez said. "They came out and played one of their best games. We just managed to out-fight them to get the win and move on."
