MONROE - There's no doubt the Studer sisters belong on the national soccer stage.
Alyssa Studer, a junior at Monroe High School, was a vital cog in the U16 Waunakee Blaze, a premier regional soccer team that won the Schwan's USA Cup at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.
Alyssa's younger sister, Vanessa, 12, also won a Schwan's USA Cup title playing with the U12 Waunakee Pressure.
Vanessa is a center midfielder and Alyssa a defender. They practice and push each other on the pitch.
"She is always willing to help me," Vanessa said. "It means a lot. I just love the game."
Vanessa also has learned a valuable lesson from her big sister.
"No matter how much you are down by, always keep your head up," Vanessa said. "You never know what will happen."
Alyssa Studer and the U16 Waunakee Blaze went 2-0-1 in opening round robin play. In bracket play, the Blaze shut out the Howard Hurricanes, 3-0. The Blaze then edged Alberta Select, 2-1, in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the championship. The Blaze shut out Lakeland, 2-0, to capture the title.
Playing on a premier team with some of the state's top high school soccer players proved eye-opening.
"It's definitely a big honor," Alyssa said. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm really good enough to be playing with these people."
Alyssa is in her fourth year with the Waunakee Blaze. It was a perfect marriage, as the squad won the Schwan's USA Cup in her first year on the team. She remains focused on her ultimate goal.
"I always wanted to play at the highest level, so I tried out," Alyssa said. "I hope to get to the next level and play in college."
The opportunity to play in the Schwan's USA Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"It's a much bigger deal than going out to an abandoned field in the middle of nowhere," Alyssa said.
More than 16,000 athletes on 978 teams including 28 states and 16 countries played in the tournament.
Even though Alyssa knows her role as a defender often can go unappreciated by some fans, she knows every position is critical to the team.
"You do put a lot of pressure on yourself back there because you are the last defense besides the goalie," Alyssa said.
Vanessa Studer and the U12 Waunakee Pressure went 2-1 in round robin play. Vanessa scored a goal in each of the first five games to lead the Waunakee Pressure.
The Pressure went unbeaten in bracket play, defeating TRSA Flashes 2-0 before shuting out the Cottage Grove Wolfpack, 2-0, in the semifinals.
In the title game, the Pressure beat the WBL Thunder 2-1.
"It felt really good because we had worked so hard," Vanessa said. "We weren't really expecting to win it."
Alyssa Studer, a junior at Monroe High School, was a vital cog in the U16 Waunakee Blaze, a premier regional soccer team that won the Schwan's USA Cup at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.
Alyssa's younger sister, Vanessa, 12, also won a Schwan's USA Cup title playing with the U12 Waunakee Pressure.
Vanessa is a center midfielder and Alyssa a defender. They practice and push each other on the pitch.
"She is always willing to help me," Vanessa said. "It means a lot. I just love the game."
Vanessa also has learned a valuable lesson from her big sister.
"No matter how much you are down by, always keep your head up," Vanessa said. "You never know what will happen."
Alyssa Studer and the U16 Waunakee Blaze went 2-0-1 in opening round robin play. In bracket play, the Blaze shut out the Howard Hurricanes, 3-0. The Blaze then edged Alberta Select, 2-1, in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the championship. The Blaze shut out Lakeland, 2-0, to capture the title.
Playing on a premier team with some of the state's top high school soccer players proved eye-opening.
"It's definitely a big honor," Alyssa said. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm really good enough to be playing with these people."
Alyssa is in her fourth year with the Waunakee Blaze. It was a perfect marriage, as the squad won the Schwan's USA Cup in her first year on the team. She remains focused on her ultimate goal.
"I always wanted to play at the highest level, so I tried out," Alyssa said. "I hope to get to the next level and play in college."
The opportunity to play in the Schwan's USA Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"It's a much bigger deal than going out to an abandoned field in the middle of nowhere," Alyssa said.
More than 16,000 athletes on 978 teams including 28 states and 16 countries played in the tournament.
Even though Alyssa knows her role as a defender often can go unappreciated by some fans, she knows every position is critical to the team.
"You do put a lot of pressure on yourself back there because you are the last defense besides the goalie," Alyssa said.
Vanessa Studer and the U12 Waunakee Pressure went 2-1 in round robin play. Vanessa scored a goal in each of the first five games to lead the Waunakee Pressure.
The Pressure went unbeaten in bracket play, defeating TRSA Flashes 2-0 before shuting out the Cottage Grove Wolfpack, 2-0, in the semifinals.
In the title game, the Pressure beat the WBL Thunder 2-1.
"It felt really good because we had worked so hard," Vanessa said. "We weren't really expecting to win it."
