BELLEVILLE - The Sugar River girls soccer team is two steps away from the state tournament after posting a 3-1 WIAA Division 2 regional championship victory over Monroe Saturday at a sun-drenched Belleville High School.
Sugar River freshman Katie Viney scored a goal and had an assist to propel the Raiders to victory.
Sugar River (14-2-5), the No. 1 seed, advances to host McFarland in a WIAA Division 2 Mount Horeb sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29.
"The seed doesn't mean anything to anybody," Sugar River coach John Ziperski said. "We knew Monroe would come out firing for us."
The Raiders struck first when Viney lofted a long-distance goal kick from just outside the penalty box that found the back of the net off an assist from senior Emily Laube at 5 minutes, 30 seconds.
One minute later, Monroe freshman Kylee Ritschard scored a game-tying goal to put the Cheesemakers (7-9-1) back in the game.
"I think the girls came in fired up today," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill said. "They really felt like they could stick with Sugar River. I think they really felt like they could hopefully score another goal."
The Raiders received a big boost before the half when Sugar River freshman Hannah Kernen beat Monroe sophomore Alyssa Studer and drilled a go-ahead goal to the corner, just past diving goalkeeper Niamh O'Neill-Culhane. The go-ahead goal by Kernen was her 24th of the season and provided a lift.
"We just didn't want this to be the last game for the seniors," Kernen said. "I knew the goalie was coming out right away. I just slipped it right past her really quick."
The go-ahead goal was unquestionably a momentum shift.
"It really felt good going into the half without that panic if you were tied," Ziperski said. "After that first goal (by Monroe), I think we played a little scared. That second goal kind of released that a little bit. We always go into the second half thinking it's a 0-0 game."
Ziperski has been amazed by Kernen, who has scored eight game-winning goals this season.
"It's kind of a gift when you have a freshman who walks in that is basically All-State," he said.
Kernen was the focal point of the Cheesemakers' defense.
"Hannah Kernen is obviously a very talented player," O'Neill said. "She's extremely fast and skilled. It was very hard to try to shut her down and get some goals."
Roz Judd iced the regional title win with a goal off an assist from senior Shanna Karls at 78:30.
The Cheesemakers made in-roads with a historic season, which featured the school's first regional win.
"I think they started off very disorganized and lost some games they could do better in," O'Neill said. "I think they started to believe they could be as good as any other team."
Now the Raiders, who earned a 1-1 tie against McFarland on April 17 during the Swiss Kick, turn their focus to the Spartans.
"We feel happy to be in it," Ziperski said. "We feel like an underdog even though we are the No. 1 seed."
Sugar River freshman Katie Viney scored a goal and had an assist to propel the Raiders to victory.
Sugar River (14-2-5), the No. 1 seed, advances to host McFarland in a WIAA Division 2 Mount Horeb sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29.
"The seed doesn't mean anything to anybody," Sugar River coach John Ziperski said. "We knew Monroe would come out firing for us."
The Raiders struck first when Viney lofted a long-distance goal kick from just outside the penalty box that found the back of the net off an assist from senior Emily Laube at 5 minutes, 30 seconds.
One minute later, Monroe freshman Kylee Ritschard scored a game-tying goal to put the Cheesemakers (7-9-1) back in the game.
"I think the girls came in fired up today," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill said. "They really felt like they could stick with Sugar River. I think they really felt like they could hopefully score another goal."
The Raiders received a big boost before the half when Sugar River freshman Hannah Kernen beat Monroe sophomore Alyssa Studer and drilled a go-ahead goal to the corner, just past diving goalkeeper Niamh O'Neill-Culhane. The go-ahead goal by Kernen was her 24th of the season and provided a lift.
"We just didn't want this to be the last game for the seniors," Kernen said. "I knew the goalie was coming out right away. I just slipped it right past her really quick."
The go-ahead goal was unquestionably a momentum shift.
"It really felt good going into the half without that panic if you were tied," Ziperski said. "After that first goal (by Monroe), I think we played a little scared. That second goal kind of released that a little bit. We always go into the second half thinking it's a 0-0 game."
Ziperski has been amazed by Kernen, who has scored eight game-winning goals this season.
"It's kind of a gift when you have a freshman who walks in that is basically All-State," he said.
Kernen was the focal point of the Cheesemakers' defense.
"Hannah Kernen is obviously a very talented player," O'Neill said. "She's extremely fast and skilled. It was very hard to try to shut her down and get some goals."
Roz Judd iced the regional title win with a goal off an assist from senior Shanna Karls at 78:30.
The Cheesemakers made in-roads with a historic season, which featured the school's first regional win.
"I think they started off very disorganized and lost some games they could do better in," O'Neill said. "I think they started to believe they could be as good as any other team."
Now the Raiders, who earned a 1-1 tie against McFarland on April 17 during the Swiss Kick, turn their focus to the Spartans.
"We feel happy to be in it," Ziperski said. "We feel like an underdog even though we are the No. 1 seed."
