MONROE - Banged up and struggling, the Monroe boys soccer team gained some encouragement from Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Oregon, a perennial top team in the Badger South Conference.
"We did a very good job marking up the ball," Monroe coach Tony Stamm said. "We had a couple of mistakes where the ball got a little too far back, but other than that I thought we played much better ball - especially playing against a team this good in conference."
The game remained scoreless throughout much of the first half, with the Panthers (6-3-1 overall) pressuring the Cheesemakers' defense. In the 27th minute, Oregon's Karl Bock broke the tie by sending the ball past Monroe goalkeeper Dan Becker.
Despite the goal, Monroe (3-7) didn't let up.
The first half finished with Monroe down 1-0, and the Cheese came out of the gates in the second half showing signs of life and resilience. The offense started pressuring the Panthers, and the defense ate up the ball.
"Our defense was working very hard and did very well. We win the ball more than the other teams," Stamm said. "I'm really impressed with all the guys working hard out there today."
Perhaps the most visible of the defensive stars was Becker, who despite allowing two goals (the last of which came with less than six minutes to play in the game) played well.
For much of the second half, Oregon headshots and streaking shots on goal sailed wide or over the net. However, when the Panthers shots starting heading directly for the net, Becker was there to deny whatever came near him from entering the goal.
With 16 minutes left in the game, Oregon sent a one-timer on a corner kick, but Becker sprawled out with little regard for his body and blocked the ball. A minute later, Oregon again had a clean shot on goal, but Becker got down on the dirt and took it away.
And in the next minute, continuing his goalkeeping clinic, an Oregon breakaway kick came in high and Becker jumped as high as he could and punched the ball over the back of the net for a second highlight-reel save.
"It was a little fast to catch, so I put it over the bar and played it safe," Becker said.
The three saves energized the Cheesemakers on both offense and defense. Monroe sent multiple shots at Panther goalie Jameson Kronser, however the Cheese were unable to capitalize.
"We're just not getting enough players to the goal. We need to get more pressure on the goal," Stamm said of his offense.
However, Becker knows that sometimes the best offense can essentially be defense.
"If you're not allowing any goals, then it gives your team a good chance to win. Even if you don't score and the game is close late in the game, the guys may start to think that we can score and win this game," Becker said.
Monroe next plays at Evansville on Friday.
"We did a very good job marking up the ball," Monroe coach Tony Stamm said. "We had a couple of mistakes where the ball got a little too far back, but other than that I thought we played much better ball - especially playing against a team this good in conference."
The game remained scoreless throughout much of the first half, with the Panthers (6-3-1 overall) pressuring the Cheesemakers' defense. In the 27th minute, Oregon's Karl Bock broke the tie by sending the ball past Monroe goalkeeper Dan Becker.
Despite the goal, Monroe (3-7) didn't let up.
The first half finished with Monroe down 1-0, and the Cheese came out of the gates in the second half showing signs of life and resilience. The offense started pressuring the Panthers, and the defense ate up the ball.
"Our defense was working very hard and did very well. We win the ball more than the other teams," Stamm said. "I'm really impressed with all the guys working hard out there today."
Perhaps the most visible of the defensive stars was Becker, who despite allowing two goals (the last of which came with less than six minutes to play in the game) played well.
For much of the second half, Oregon headshots and streaking shots on goal sailed wide or over the net. However, when the Panthers shots starting heading directly for the net, Becker was there to deny whatever came near him from entering the goal.
With 16 minutes left in the game, Oregon sent a one-timer on a corner kick, but Becker sprawled out with little regard for his body and blocked the ball. A minute later, Oregon again had a clean shot on goal, but Becker got down on the dirt and took it away.
And in the next minute, continuing his goalkeeping clinic, an Oregon breakaway kick came in high and Becker jumped as high as he could and punched the ball over the back of the net for a second highlight-reel save.
"It was a little fast to catch, so I put it over the bar and played it safe," Becker said.
The three saves energized the Cheesemakers on both offense and defense. Monroe sent multiple shots at Panther goalie Jameson Kronser, however the Cheese were unable to capitalize.
"We're just not getting enough players to the goal. We need to get more pressure on the goal," Stamm said of his offense.
However, Becker knows that sometimes the best offense can essentially be defense.
"If you're not allowing any goals, then it gives your team a good chance to win. Even if you don't score and the game is close late in the game, the guys may start to think that we can score and win this game," Becker said.
Monroe next plays at Evansville on Friday.
