MONROE - Sugar River senior Kevin Zimmerman always gets up for a nonconference rivalry game against Monroe.
Zimmerman did his part scoring one goal and adding one assist to propel Sugar River to a 2-0 win over Monroe on a soggy field at Honey Creek Park on Thursday.
"It's definitely a rivalry because they (Monroe) are in our regional," Zimmerman said. "It's exciting. It means we are one step farther than they are at the end."
Zimmerman scored a header goal on a throw-in from senior Dylan Hustad at 7 minutes, 46 seconds.
"Dylan has the best throw-ins on our team," Zimmerman said. "We have been trying to do that all season. Dylan told me where to go between two players. The ball was right there, and I just hit it in."
Sugar River coach Jake Ziehr said the Raiders have scored three goals this season off Hustad's throw-ins.
"It's probably about a 28-yard throw over his head," Ziehr said. "Dylan is really a strong kid. It's a weapon for sure. Both Kevin (Zimmerman) and Nehemiah (Noriega) are really great at getting it out of the air. It's just as dangerous as a corner kick. It helped set the tone."
Ziehr was excited the Raiders (6-2) pulled out the win.
"To get this victory is huge," he said. "Hopefully, as long as we take care of business and keep winning, it will be a huge help for our regional seeding."
Sugar River senior Nehemiah Noriega dribbled and hammered in a goal just inside the near post off a pass from Zimmerman at 29:05 to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Raiders outshot the Cheesemakers 27-10.
"Both of their (Sugar River's) goals came because they hustled to the ball and crashed the goal," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "They wanted it more. I thought we played better in the second half. When you play good teams it's hard to come back when you give them a two-goal lead."
Ziehr never felt satisfied the Raiders would run away with the win despite a big advantage in shots.
"Even though we controlled the game we didn't finish and close it out," he said.
The Cheesemakers (3-3-1) looked to mount a comeback in the second half. Monroe senior Niven Tomasiewicz's header shot on a pass from freshman Anthany Hernandez just ricocheted off the top cross bar in the 64th minute.
"When you are down 2-0 that one goal could have sparked a comeback," Vasquez said of Tomasiewicz's header shot. "We started charging and pushing guys forward more in the second half. We substituted our forwards more. We knew those guys would have to run like crazy."
Monroe senior McKenzy Foley also had a golden opportunity on a direct kick in the 86th minute.
Vasquez said they try to use Foley to set up scoring chances as much as possible.
"He (Foley) has a powerful kick," Vasquez said. "Any time he gets it anywhere on the field we try to set someone up at the other end of it."
Sugar River goalkeeper Cole Myers had seven saves.
The Cheesemakers have several players nursing minor injuries. After losing two straight games, Monroe looks to get back on track when they host Cambridge-Deerfield in a game at 5 p.m. Monday at Honey Creek Park.
"We need to take some time off and get healthy," Vasquez said.
Sugar River will host defending state champion Delavan-Darien at 9 a.m. Saturday in Belleville. Delavan-Darien (8-0), ranked No. 1 in the Division 3 state poll, is averaging 6.7 goals per game this season and defeated Big Foot-Williams Bay 2-0 earlier this season. The Raiders beat Big Foot-Williams Bay
3-1, so Ziehr is confident after looking at a similar opponent both teams have played this year.
"That will be a big test for us," Ziehr said of the game against Delavan-Darien. "We feel confident we can possess it. If we can get the ball to bounce our way maybe we can steal one."
Zimmerman did his part scoring one goal and adding one assist to propel Sugar River to a 2-0 win over Monroe on a soggy field at Honey Creek Park on Thursday.
"It's definitely a rivalry because they (Monroe) are in our regional," Zimmerman said. "It's exciting. It means we are one step farther than they are at the end."
Zimmerman scored a header goal on a throw-in from senior Dylan Hustad at 7 minutes, 46 seconds.
"Dylan has the best throw-ins on our team," Zimmerman said. "We have been trying to do that all season. Dylan told me where to go between two players. The ball was right there, and I just hit it in."
Sugar River coach Jake Ziehr said the Raiders have scored three goals this season off Hustad's throw-ins.
"It's probably about a 28-yard throw over his head," Ziehr said. "Dylan is really a strong kid. It's a weapon for sure. Both Kevin (Zimmerman) and Nehemiah (Noriega) are really great at getting it out of the air. It's just as dangerous as a corner kick. It helped set the tone."
Ziehr was excited the Raiders (6-2) pulled out the win.
"To get this victory is huge," he said. "Hopefully, as long as we take care of business and keep winning, it will be a huge help for our regional seeding."
Sugar River senior Nehemiah Noriega dribbled and hammered in a goal just inside the near post off a pass from Zimmerman at 29:05 to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Raiders outshot the Cheesemakers 27-10.
"Both of their (Sugar River's) goals came because they hustled to the ball and crashed the goal," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "They wanted it more. I thought we played better in the second half. When you play good teams it's hard to come back when you give them a two-goal lead."
Ziehr never felt satisfied the Raiders would run away with the win despite a big advantage in shots.
"Even though we controlled the game we didn't finish and close it out," he said.
The Cheesemakers (3-3-1) looked to mount a comeback in the second half. Monroe senior Niven Tomasiewicz's header shot on a pass from freshman Anthany Hernandez just ricocheted off the top cross bar in the 64th minute.
"When you are down 2-0 that one goal could have sparked a comeback," Vasquez said of Tomasiewicz's header shot. "We started charging and pushing guys forward more in the second half. We substituted our forwards more. We knew those guys would have to run like crazy."
Monroe senior McKenzy Foley also had a golden opportunity on a direct kick in the 86th minute.
Vasquez said they try to use Foley to set up scoring chances as much as possible.
"He (Foley) has a powerful kick," Vasquez said. "Any time he gets it anywhere on the field we try to set someone up at the other end of it."
Sugar River goalkeeper Cole Myers had seven saves.
The Cheesemakers have several players nursing minor injuries. After losing two straight games, Monroe looks to get back on track when they host Cambridge-Deerfield in a game at 5 p.m. Monday at Honey Creek Park.
"We need to take some time off and get healthy," Vasquez said.
Sugar River will host defending state champion Delavan-Darien at 9 a.m. Saturday in Belleville. Delavan-Darien (8-0), ranked No. 1 in the Division 3 state poll, is averaging 6.7 goals per game this season and defeated Big Foot-Williams Bay 2-0 earlier this season. The Raiders beat Big Foot-Williams Bay
3-1, so Ziehr is confident after looking at a similar opponent both teams have played this year.
"That will be a big test for us," Ziehr said of the game against Delavan-Darien. "We feel confident we can possess it. If we can get the ball to bounce our way maybe we can steal one."
