BELLEVILLE - Sugar River junior Jackie Burgess couldn't fight back the tears just like her teammates after a 2-1 loss to Madison Edgewood in a WIAA Division 3 girls soccer sectional semifinal Thursday.
But the soggy field and rain didn't put a damper on the season the Raiders put together. They finished 19-4-1 and just two wins from the team's first state tournament appearance since 2004.
"I think we played our hearts out," Burgess said after a postgame huddle with the team one final time. "It's really hard knowing we lost, and we could have won. It's tough to see it end. Everything happens for a reason."
The Raiders won the Capitol Conference championship, were ranked No. 4 in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association state poll and made a sectional run.
"Seasons end for most of the teams in the state with a loss," Sugar River coach John Ziperski said. "There are only a few teams that get to end with a win. The journey and hard work has to be worth it."
Early on, it looked like Sugar River wouldn't have to say goodbye to its seniors after Burgess scored a goal on a direct kick at 18 minutes, 26 seconds. It marked Burgess' first goal since last year.
"It was exciting," Burgess said. "When I kicked it, I thought it was just going to the keeper, and it went in. It gave us a boost and got us started."
The Raiders maintained a 1-0 lead until the second half when the Crusaders came back to score two goals. Edgewood sophomore Brita Hovde scored a game-tying goal off a corner kick to tie the game at 1. Sugar River senior goalkeeper Paige Natzke, who had six saves, was shielded on the play.
Edgewood senior Theresa Welebob scored the go-ahead goal on a cross from junior Eileen Healy at 75:14 to give the Crusaders a 2-1 lead.
"Both of them were really solid shots," Natzke said. "I have always had trouble with corner kicks. The second one they did an amazing job with a cross. It's something they are known for."
The Raiders outshot the Crusaders 22-10.
Sugar River junior Taylor Legler just missed two shots on goal early in the second half.
Sugar River junior Vanessa Narveson's header off a corner kick just went over the top cross bar in the 72nd minute. Junior teammate
Nicole Sanders had a direct kick glance off the top cross bar in the 78th minute. Narveson had one final shot with 17 seconds to go that Edgewood goalkeeper Jamila Hamdan stopped to seal the win.
"I thought we had our fair share of opportunities," Ziperski said. "We weren't able to capitalize on some of our finishes. Sometimes that happens. That is why soccer is exciting. You can be a dominant team and if it's not your night that happens."
Natzke will attend Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota in the fall. She
hasn't decided yet if she will play soccer.
"I will always remember my teammates," Natzke said. "You can't forget this great group of girls. They are the best group of kids in the world. Even if I play in college, I don't know if it will be the same family atmosphere."
But the soggy field and rain didn't put a damper on the season the Raiders put together. They finished 19-4-1 and just two wins from the team's first state tournament appearance since 2004.
"I think we played our hearts out," Burgess said after a postgame huddle with the team one final time. "It's really hard knowing we lost, and we could have won. It's tough to see it end. Everything happens for a reason."
The Raiders won the Capitol Conference championship, were ranked No. 4 in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association state poll and made a sectional run.
"Seasons end for most of the teams in the state with a loss," Sugar River coach John Ziperski said. "There are only a few teams that get to end with a win. The journey and hard work has to be worth it."
Early on, it looked like Sugar River wouldn't have to say goodbye to its seniors after Burgess scored a goal on a direct kick at 18 minutes, 26 seconds. It marked Burgess' first goal since last year.
"It was exciting," Burgess said. "When I kicked it, I thought it was just going to the keeper, and it went in. It gave us a boost and got us started."
The Raiders maintained a 1-0 lead until the second half when the Crusaders came back to score two goals. Edgewood sophomore Brita Hovde scored a game-tying goal off a corner kick to tie the game at 1. Sugar River senior goalkeeper Paige Natzke, who had six saves, was shielded on the play.
Edgewood senior Theresa Welebob scored the go-ahead goal on a cross from junior Eileen Healy at 75:14 to give the Crusaders a 2-1 lead.
"Both of them were really solid shots," Natzke said. "I have always had trouble with corner kicks. The second one they did an amazing job with a cross. It's something they are known for."
The Raiders outshot the Crusaders 22-10.
Sugar River junior Taylor Legler just missed two shots on goal early in the second half.
Sugar River junior Vanessa Narveson's header off a corner kick just went over the top cross bar in the 72nd minute. Junior teammate
Nicole Sanders had a direct kick glance off the top cross bar in the 78th minute. Narveson had one final shot with 17 seconds to go that Edgewood goalkeeper Jamila Hamdan stopped to seal the win.
"I thought we had our fair share of opportunities," Ziperski said. "We weren't able to capitalize on some of our finishes. Sometimes that happens. That is why soccer is exciting. You can be a dominant team and if it's not your night that happens."
Natzke will attend Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota in the fall. She
hasn't decided yet if she will play soccer.
"I will always remember my teammates," Natzke said. "You can't forget this great group of girls. They are the best group of kids in the world. Even if I play in college, I don't know if it will be the same family atmosphere."
