BELLEVILLE - Senior Abbi Lahey and the Sugar River girls soccer team are in a familiar position with some unfinished business.
Sugar River (21-2-2), ranked No. 3 in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Division 3 state poll, is the No. 1 seed and will host Madison Edgewood in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal showdown today at 7 p.m. in Belleville.
Last year, Edgewood outdueled the Raiders, beating them 2-1 in the sectional semifinals to end the Raiders' season.
"We have the memory of them ending our season last year," Lahey said. "We don't want that to happen again."
Edgewood (10-3-7) finished fourth in the Badger South Conference this year. The Crusaders advanced to the sectional semifinal by edging Mount Horeb 1-0 in a regional final on Saturday. This is the third straight year Sugar River has advanced to the sectional.
"I think we are right back where we were last year," Sugar River coach John Ziperski said. "The girls just have to stay focused on one game at a time. This is an opportunity to see if we can extend our season."
The Crusaders are led by junior Brita Hovde, who has scored a team-high 11 goals and has eight assists. Jordyn Rothwell (10 goals) and Eileen Healy (seven goals) are also capable scorers.
"They are a big physical and strong team," Ziperski said. "They are a solid team. We match up well with them."
Sugar River defeated the Crusaders 2-0 earlier this season, but one of the goals came on a penalty kick.
"It was more of an even game," Ziperski said.
Both Hovde and Edgewood senior Andrea Tipple are first-team Badger South All-Conference selections. Edgewood sophomore goalkeeper Jamila Hamdan was also named first-team all-conference this season. The Crusaders have a stingy defense giving up just 0.65 goals per game and are scoring 1.8 goals per game this year.
Sugar River has not had any problems scoring this season. The Raiders are averaging 3.6 goals and are giving up just 0.84 goals per game. Sugar River senior Vanessa Narveson leads the Raiders with 27 goals this season. The other top scorers for the Raiders include senior Brooke Larson (17 goals), sophomore Aimee Sies (10 goals), senior Nicole Sanders (eight goals) and senior Taylor Legler, Lahey and junior Esther Noriega with six goals each.
"It will be a really good match," Lahey said. "They are a really good team."
Sugar River (21-2-2), ranked No. 3 in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Division 3 state poll, is the No. 1 seed and will host Madison Edgewood in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal showdown today at 7 p.m. in Belleville.
Last year, Edgewood outdueled the Raiders, beating them 2-1 in the sectional semifinals to end the Raiders' season.
"We have the memory of them ending our season last year," Lahey said. "We don't want that to happen again."
Edgewood (10-3-7) finished fourth in the Badger South Conference this year. The Crusaders advanced to the sectional semifinal by edging Mount Horeb 1-0 in a regional final on Saturday. This is the third straight year Sugar River has advanced to the sectional.
"I think we are right back where we were last year," Sugar River coach John Ziperski said. "The girls just have to stay focused on one game at a time. This is an opportunity to see if we can extend our season."
The Crusaders are led by junior Brita Hovde, who has scored a team-high 11 goals and has eight assists. Jordyn Rothwell (10 goals) and Eileen Healy (seven goals) are also capable scorers.
"They are a big physical and strong team," Ziperski said. "They are a solid team. We match up well with them."
Sugar River defeated the Crusaders 2-0 earlier this season, but one of the goals came on a penalty kick.
"It was more of an even game," Ziperski said.
Both Hovde and Edgewood senior Andrea Tipple are first-team Badger South All-Conference selections. Edgewood sophomore goalkeeper Jamila Hamdan was also named first-team all-conference this season. The Crusaders have a stingy defense giving up just 0.65 goals per game and are scoring 1.8 goals per game this year.
Sugar River has not had any problems scoring this season. The Raiders are averaging 3.6 goals and are giving up just 0.84 goals per game. Sugar River senior Vanessa Narveson leads the Raiders with 27 goals this season. The other top scorers for the Raiders include senior Brooke Larson (17 goals), sophomore Aimee Sies (10 goals), senior Nicole Sanders (eight goals) and senior Taylor Legler, Lahey and junior Esther Noriega with six goals each.
"It will be a really good match," Lahey said. "They are a really good team."
