BELLEVILLE - The Sugar River boys soccer team survived after giving up two penalty kick goals to hang on to a 4-3 win over Pewaukee on Tuesday.
"We needed everyone on the field to make that win happen," Sugar River coach Matt Belknap said. "It's nice to see we have a much more balanced team then people thought we would have."
Sugar River's Otto Kienitz scored two goals to help propel the Raiders to the season opening win. Kienitz scored his first goal at 15 minutes, 23 seconds on an assist from Brett Ellenberger.
Freshman Justin Stadelman scored off a pass from Brian Anderson at 23:30 to give the Raiders a 2-0 halftime lead.
Despite clinging to a 2-0 halftime lead, Belknap wasn't comfortable.
"We knew at halftime they were going to attack us with everything they had," he said. "They (Pewaukee) weren't just going to take it sitting down. The kids were ready for any onslaught."
Kienitz scored his second goal on an assist from Cody Carlson at 41:10 to give the Raiders a 3-0 lead.
Sugar River junior Jon Fox scored the Raiders' final goal on an assist from Kienitz at 68:30.
Belknap said Brandon Jones was key to helping transition into an offensive attack. Sugar River senior Brendan Pittman and junior Braden Pittman were two defenders who played the entire game.
Belknap said another key to sealing the win was having defensive midfielders cycling back to keep Pewaukee at bay.
"They played like they were doing it in their sleep," Belknap said.
Sugar River senior goalkeeper Eric Liegel had five saves. Liegel allowed just 18 goals last year and recorded six shutouts.
"He had five phenomenal saves," Belknap said. "The defense's job is to not make Eric look too good."
Belknap knows the Raiders can't have demoralizing penalties inside the box.
"Our focal point will be continuing to play a physical game with each kids' arms down," he said.
"We needed everyone on the field to make that win happen," Sugar River coach Matt Belknap said. "It's nice to see we have a much more balanced team then people thought we would have."
Sugar River's Otto Kienitz scored two goals to help propel the Raiders to the season opening win. Kienitz scored his first goal at 15 minutes, 23 seconds on an assist from Brett Ellenberger.
Freshman Justin Stadelman scored off a pass from Brian Anderson at 23:30 to give the Raiders a 2-0 halftime lead.
Despite clinging to a 2-0 halftime lead, Belknap wasn't comfortable.
"We knew at halftime they were going to attack us with everything they had," he said. "They (Pewaukee) weren't just going to take it sitting down. The kids were ready for any onslaught."
Kienitz scored his second goal on an assist from Cody Carlson at 41:10 to give the Raiders a 3-0 lead.
Sugar River junior Jon Fox scored the Raiders' final goal on an assist from Kienitz at 68:30.
Belknap said Brandon Jones was key to helping transition into an offensive attack. Sugar River senior Brendan Pittman and junior Braden Pittman were two defenders who played the entire game.
Belknap said another key to sealing the win was having defensive midfielders cycling back to keep Pewaukee at bay.
"They played like they were doing it in their sleep," Belknap said.
Sugar River senior goalkeeper Eric Liegel had five saves. Liegel allowed just 18 goals last year and recorded six shutouts.
"He had five phenomenal saves," Belknap said. "The defense's job is to not make Eric look too good."
Belknap knows the Raiders can't have demoralizing penalties inside the box.
"Our focal point will be continuing to play a physical game with each kids' arms down," he said.
