BELLEVILLE - After graduating two all-state players from a team that made a run to the WIAA Division 3 state tournament last year, Sugar River girls soccer coach John Ziperski didn't know where the scoring punch would come from this season.
Sugar River junior Kalin O'Rourke has jumped at the chance to deliver more as a forward this year. She scored 14 goals and has three assists this year and leads the team in scoring, helping Sugar River get off to an 8-1 start this season. She scored two goals in leading the Raiders to a 4-0 win over Monroe on Friday.
After making a run to the Division 3 state tournament last year for the first time in the history of the program, O'Rouke still had high expectations for this season despite the graduation of most of the starters from last year's team.
"I knew we had the potential to be a good team like last year," O'Rourke said. "We just had to work really hard as a team and focus."
Sugar River is ranked fourth in the Division 3 Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association state poll. The only loss for the Raiders came in the season opener to DeForest 3-2.
"We want to show people why we are ranked No. 4 in the state," O'Rourke said. "We want to keep that reputation."
O'Rourke scored four goals and had 13 assists last year and is now spearheading the Raiders' offensive attack this year. Sugar River is in contention to win the Capitol Conference championship. Lodi is 4-0 in the Capitol Conference and Sugar River is right on their heels at 3-0.
Sugar River coach John Ziperski said one of the biggest differences this year compared to last year is O'Rourke's confidence.
"Her confidence in knowing what she can do and what she can do for the team is better," Ziperski said. "I didn't know for sure where our scoring would come from. Kalin has really stepped up. I think her time in cross country has really helped her endurance."
Ziperski said the past eight years the Raiders have an all-state forward to lean on for the bulk of the scoring. Last year, it was Vanessa Narveson and before that it was Hannah Kernen.
"We don't have that one all-state forward that does all the scoring," Ziperski said.
It doesn't mean Ziperski doubts his team.
"I feel like defensively and in the midfield, we are just as strong as we were in the past," he said.
O'Rourke started playing soccer when she was 5-years-old. As a freshman on the junior varisty team three years ago, she was one of the team's top scorers. She looked forward to the competition and team aspect of the game.
"I love how it's a team game and we get really close with each other," she said. "I always love all the running."
O'Rourke said she has improved her ability to score this year.
"I try to play it up and I'm a lot better at finishing."
O'Rourke scored the game-winning goal in the sectional championship game to beat West Salem 2-0 last year. She missed the state tournament because she was on a school trip to the Dominican Republic last year.
Ziperski credits O'Rourke for taking on more of a leadership role this season.
"She not only has stepped up as a scorer, but as a captain," Ziperski said of O'Rourke. "She's trained several years for this. It's really her turn to shine."
Sugar River junior Kalin O'Rourke has jumped at the chance to deliver more as a forward this year. She scored 14 goals and has three assists this year and leads the team in scoring, helping Sugar River get off to an 8-1 start this season. She scored two goals in leading the Raiders to a 4-0 win over Monroe on Friday.
After making a run to the Division 3 state tournament last year for the first time in the history of the program, O'Rouke still had high expectations for this season despite the graduation of most of the starters from last year's team.
"I knew we had the potential to be a good team like last year," O'Rourke said. "We just had to work really hard as a team and focus."
Sugar River is ranked fourth in the Division 3 Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association state poll. The only loss for the Raiders came in the season opener to DeForest 3-2.
"We want to show people why we are ranked No. 4 in the state," O'Rourke said. "We want to keep that reputation."
O'Rourke scored four goals and had 13 assists last year and is now spearheading the Raiders' offensive attack this year. Sugar River is in contention to win the Capitol Conference championship. Lodi is 4-0 in the Capitol Conference and Sugar River is right on their heels at 3-0.
Sugar River coach John Ziperski said one of the biggest differences this year compared to last year is O'Rourke's confidence.
"Her confidence in knowing what she can do and what she can do for the team is better," Ziperski said. "I didn't know for sure where our scoring would come from. Kalin has really stepped up. I think her time in cross country has really helped her endurance."
Ziperski said the past eight years the Raiders have an all-state forward to lean on for the bulk of the scoring. Last year, it was Vanessa Narveson and before that it was Hannah Kernen.
"We don't have that one all-state forward that does all the scoring," Ziperski said.
It doesn't mean Ziperski doubts his team.
"I feel like defensively and in the midfield, we are just as strong as we were in the past," he said.
O'Rourke started playing soccer when she was 5-years-old. As a freshman on the junior varisty team three years ago, she was one of the team's top scorers. She looked forward to the competition and team aspect of the game.
"I love how it's a team game and we get really close with each other," she said. "I always love all the running."
O'Rourke said she has improved her ability to score this year.
"I try to play it up and I'm a lot better at finishing."
O'Rourke scored the game-winning goal in the sectional championship game to beat West Salem 2-0 last year. She missed the state tournament because she was on a school trip to the Dominican Republic last year.
Ziperski credits O'Rourke for taking on more of a leadership role this season.
"She not only has stepped up as a scorer, but as a captain," Ziperski said of O'Rourke. "She's trained several years for this. It's really her turn to shine."
