MONROE - Time and again Monroe freshman Vanessa Studer received an indirect kick, but the Cheesemakers couldn't cash in and lost a nail biter to Sauk Prairie 1-0 in the Badger Challenge Friday.
"We had a lot of scoring opportunities," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill said. "There were a lot of zingers off the bar. It was a battle."
Sauk Prairie junior midfielder Hannah Juckett scored a first-half goal and that is all the Eagles would need. The Cheesemakers had several scoring opportunities in the second half. Studer drilled a shot off the top cross bar on an indirect kick in the 46th minute. Monroe junior forward Chelsea Haffele powered a shot over the top cross bar in the 62nd minute. Monroe freshman Gabby Ludwig and senior Kylee Ritschard also each had golden scoring opportunities they couldn't put away inside the box.
"I was hoping we could get one in," Studer said. "Unfortunately, it wasn't on our side today."
Studer excelled at setting up scoring opportunities with her indirect kicks.
"I always try to have a power shot so we can get a rebound," she said. "Kylee and Gabby are good at getting those rebounds."
There weren't many rebounds for the Eagles to grab and putback with Monroe senior goalkeeper Katie Coplien in the net. Coplien had 12 saves and she kept the faith her team would score.
"I was kind of confident," Coplien said. "We have been working on taking shots. Even though they didn't get one in they were all solid shots."
O'Neill was satisfied with the effort.
"They came out in the second half fired up," O'Neill said. "They couldn't have done anything more than what they did."
O'Neill commended Coplien for setting up the defense.
"Katie was really communicating well with her defense," she said. "She made some great decisions. She had a great game tonight."
The Cheesemakers won't have to wait long to play Sauk Prairie again. Monroe will play at Sauk Prairie May 26.
"It will be nice to get a rematch," Coplien said. "We will work on what we need to in practice. We will come in 10 times better on Thursday."
"We had a lot of scoring opportunities," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill said. "There were a lot of zingers off the bar. It was a battle."
Sauk Prairie junior midfielder Hannah Juckett scored a first-half goal and that is all the Eagles would need. The Cheesemakers had several scoring opportunities in the second half. Studer drilled a shot off the top cross bar on an indirect kick in the 46th minute. Monroe junior forward Chelsea Haffele powered a shot over the top cross bar in the 62nd minute. Monroe freshman Gabby Ludwig and senior Kylee Ritschard also each had golden scoring opportunities they couldn't put away inside the box.
"I was hoping we could get one in," Studer said. "Unfortunately, it wasn't on our side today."
Studer excelled at setting up scoring opportunities with her indirect kicks.
"I always try to have a power shot so we can get a rebound," she said. "Kylee and Gabby are good at getting those rebounds."
There weren't many rebounds for the Eagles to grab and putback with Monroe senior goalkeeper Katie Coplien in the net. Coplien had 12 saves and she kept the faith her team would score.
"I was kind of confident," Coplien said. "We have been working on taking shots. Even though they didn't get one in they were all solid shots."
O'Neill was satisfied with the effort.
"They came out in the second half fired up," O'Neill said. "They couldn't have done anything more than what they did."
O'Neill commended Coplien for setting up the defense.
"Katie was really communicating well with her defense," she said. "She made some great decisions. She had a great game tonight."
The Cheesemakers won't have to wait long to play Sauk Prairie again. Monroe will play at Sauk Prairie May 26.
"It will be nice to get a rematch," Coplien said. "We will work on what we need to in practice. We will come in 10 times better on Thursday."
