MONROE - During the dog days of summer, sophomore forward Nick Schumacher has asked Monroe High School boys soccer coach Tony Vasquez to unlock the shed for him so he could get soccer balls out to practice his shooting.
When the team was hit with the news that last year's leading scorer, senior Ryne Miller, would miss the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the Cheesemakers turned to Schumacher.
Schumacher has emerged not only as an offensive weapon for the Cheesemakers, but as a leader for a young team that starts two freshmen and four sophomores.
"He's really worked to practice his shooting," Vasquez said. "He's got better every year. He loves the game. Those are the ones who are special and get really good. They are the ones who practice every day and train."
Schumacher is a quiet and soft-spoken person, but on the soccer field it's a different story.
"Sports is a different world," Schumacher said. "I'm a lot more vocal on the field and find it easier to yell."
With the Cheesemakers graduating seven starters after last year, Schumacher had to step into a leadership role with seniors Atticus Pond, Silas Setterstrom and Jacob Ritschard who were each starters last season. He has gained the trust of his coaches and earned the respect of his teammates.
"I had to take over with Atticus and Ryne to be one of the leaders of the team with less kids and seniors," Schumacher said.
Vasquez wasn't worried about asking Schumacher to take on more of a leadership role.
"We lost Ryne so early that he kind of had to take on more of a leadership role," Vasquez said. "He's been more aggressive this year."
Monroe (6-10-1) received a seventh seed and will host No. 10 seed Lodi in a WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal on Thursday at Honey Creek Park. If the Cheesemakers win, a regional championship showdown against the winner of second-seeded McFarland or 15th-seeded Adams-Friendship awaits on Saturday. Monroe enters the tournament 4-2 in its past six games.
"Obviously, we want to go far in the tournament," he said. "I feel like we can win a few games even though we are outnumbered usually. We are picking up the pace and playing a lot faster. We have been outhustling and outworking teams because we want to win. It's there with this team. Everyone wants to win."
After playing youth soccer for several years, Schumacher took a hiatus from the game to play football. He started playing soccer again in seventh grade. He showed little side effects from a couple years away from soccer.
After scoring seven goals last season, Schumacher has scored nine goals this year. His mission is about more than just scoring goals.
"It doesn't matter how many goals I score," he said. "We have to play together as a team. I have to depend on the other guys, and they depend on me. I have to work harder to make them better."
The Cheesemakers have been shut out six times this season but are 5-3 against teams from the regional they played during the regular season.
"Our younger kids have been working hard to get better," Schumacher said. "We are better."
Schumacher has had three shots hit the post this year and had two shots sail over the top cross bar in the regular-season finale against Edgerton last week.
Vasquez said Schumacher has been great at sets plays.
"If he can keep improving that is a real weapon when you can have someone put the shot on the goal from far out," Vasquez said of Schumacher's free kicks.
When the team was hit with the news that last year's leading scorer, senior Ryne Miller, would miss the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the Cheesemakers turned to Schumacher.
Schumacher has emerged not only as an offensive weapon for the Cheesemakers, but as a leader for a young team that starts two freshmen and four sophomores.
"He's really worked to practice his shooting," Vasquez said. "He's got better every year. He loves the game. Those are the ones who are special and get really good. They are the ones who practice every day and train."
Schumacher is a quiet and soft-spoken person, but on the soccer field it's a different story.
"Sports is a different world," Schumacher said. "I'm a lot more vocal on the field and find it easier to yell."
With the Cheesemakers graduating seven starters after last year, Schumacher had to step into a leadership role with seniors Atticus Pond, Silas Setterstrom and Jacob Ritschard who were each starters last season. He has gained the trust of his coaches and earned the respect of his teammates.
"I had to take over with Atticus and Ryne to be one of the leaders of the team with less kids and seniors," Schumacher said.
Vasquez wasn't worried about asking Schumacher to take on more of a leadership role.
"We lost Ryne so early that he kind of had to take on more of a leadership role," Vasquez said. "He's been more aggressive this year."
Monroe (6-10-1) received a seventh seed and will host No. 10 seed Lodi in a WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal on Thursday at Honey Creek Park. If the Cheesemakers win, a regional championship showdown against the winner of second-seeded McFarland or 15th-seeded Adams-Friendship awaits on Saturday. Monroe enters the tournament 4-2 in its past six games.
"Obviously, we want to go far in the tournament," he said. "I feel like we can win a few games even though we are outnumbered usually. We are picking up the pace and playing a lot faster. We have been outhustling and outworking teams because we want to win. It's there with this team. Everyone wants to win."
After playing youth soccer for several years, Schumacher took a hiatus from the game to play football. He started playing soccer again in seventh grade. He showed little side effects from a couple years away from soccer.
After scoring seven goals last season, Schumacher has scored nine goals this year. His mission is about more than just scoring goals.
"It doesn't matter how many goals I score," he said. "We have to play together as a team. I have to depend on the other guys, and they depend on me. I have to work harder to make them better."
The Cheesemakers have been shut out six times this season but are 5-3 against teams from the regional they played during the regular season.
"Our younger kids have been working hard to get better," Schumacher said. "We are better."
Schumacher has had three shots hit the post this year and had two shots sail over the top cross bar in the regular-season finale against Edgerton last week.
Vasquez said Schumacher has been great at sets plays.
"If he can keep improving that is a real weapon when you can have someone put the shot on the goal from far out," Vasquez said of Schumacher's free kicks.
