BELLEVILLE - Monroe senior goalkeeper Lucas Koch got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time in a rivalry game against Sugar River Monday night.
With the Cheesemakers leading 3-2 and only about 3 minutes left, Koch was called for a penalty for running into Sugar River senior Justin Stadelman.
Stadelman was given a penalty kick as a result, and he put it to the back of the net for the game-tying goal in the 77th minute.
"We asked for an explanation," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "They said he attacked too aggressively and pushed the ball at the attacker. Goalies usually have the right to the space. It was frustrating. The emotions got to them. The mental part of the game got to them, and we made some mistakes. It feels like a loss. It's tough to tie like that."
Sugar River coach Richard Sanders said under new WIAA rules the game could have gone into overtime, but he said Vasquez declined.
"It was a very high-energy game," Sanders said. "When Monroe and Sugar River play each other it always seems like a spirited game. I played soccer in high school and college and I have never seen a rivalry like this when players go after each other. The game was riddled with the boys making silly fouls on both sides."
It was a battle of contrasting styles as the Cheesemakers used a counter attack and the Raiders focused on a passing attack to control possession and tempo. Monroe senior Corey Flannery scored two goals and had one assist, and junior Blake Duffy had two assists and one goal.
Flannery scored his first goal on an assist from Blake in the opening minute. Stadelman answered scoring a goal in the 27th minute to tie the game at 2. Duffy then scored a goal on a pass from Flannery to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead at the half.
The Raiders came back and tied it at 2 in the second half on Nathanial Sanders' goal in the 72 minute. Moments later, Flannery scored the go-ahead goal on an assist from Duffy to give the Cheesemakers a 3-2 lead, which ultimately led to the wild finish.
With the Cheesemakers leading 3-2 and only about 3 minutes left, Koch was called for a penalty for running into Sugar River senior Justin Stadelman.
Stadelman was given a penalty kick as a result, and he put it to the back of the net for the game-tying goal in the 77th minute.
"We asked for an explanation," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "They said he attacked too aggressively and pushed the ball at the attacker. Goalies usually have the right to the space. It was frustrating. The emotions got to them. The mental part of the game got to them, and we made some mistakes. It feels like a loss. It's tough to tie like that."
Sugar River coach Richard Sanders said under new WIAA rules the game could have gone into overtime, but he said Vasquez declined.
"It was a very high-energy game," Sanders said. "When Monroe and Sugar River play each other it always seems like a spirited game. I played soccer in high school and college and I have never seen a rivalry like this when players go after each other. The game was riddled with the boys making silly fouls on both sides."
It was a battle of contrasting styles as the Cheesemakers used a counter attack and the Raiders focused on a passing attack to control possession and tempo. Monroe senior Corey Flannery scored two goals and had one assist, and junior Blake Duffy had two assists and one goal.
Flannery scored his first goal on an assist from Blake in the opening minute. Stadelman answered scoring a goal in the 27th minute to tie the game at 2. Duffy then scored a goal on a pass from Flannery to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead at the half.
The Raiders came back and tied it at 2 in the second half on Nathanial Sanders' goal in the 72 minute. Moments later, Flannery scored the go-ahead goal on an assist from Duffy to give the Cheesemakers a 3-2 lead, which ultimately led to the wild finish.
