MONROE - If moral victories were legit, Monroe's tally would have grown from zero to a nice crooked number after Thursday's 2-0 girls soccer loss to McFarland at Honey Creek Park.
The Lady Cheesemakers (0-3-1, 0-2 Badger South) shut down their most-addressed mark and cut five goals off the number they surrendered to the perennial Badger South stalwart Spartans last season.
"The girls played the best game they possibly could have against this team," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill beamed. "They scored seven goals against us last year and they're an even better team this season."
The conference's leading goal-scorer in 2007, Sara Stern, picked up the assist on the first goal 15 minutes in by Emily Finnerud before adding a goal of her own 8 minutes, 18 seconds into the second half.
The Spartans' immediate present and future hang heavily on the skills of freshman phenom Jacie Jermier, who, thanks to relentless attention by midfielder Catie Eiserman, didn't register a point.
"It was such a fast-paced game and every one of their players have exceptional skill," O'Neill said. "Our girls were extremely tenacious."
Monroe keeper Niamh O'Neill-Culhane stopped 23 of the 25 shots she faced and Adrienne Rust stopped six shots to post the clean sheet.
O'Neill credited Abby Lubeck for making several strong runs and tracking several marks, while Emily Siefert added solid runs and Alyssa Studer's sweeping highlighted Monroe's brightest spots.
"I know they surprised McFarland," O'Neill said of her team.
Monroe looks for its first victory in conference or otherwise Tuesday when it visits Stoughton.
The Lady Cheesemakers (0-3-1, 0-2 Badger South) shut down their most-addressed mark and cut five goals off the number they surrendered to the perennial Badger South stalwart Spartans last season.
"The girls played the best game they possibly could have against this team," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill beamed. "They scored seven goals against us last year and they're an even better team this season."
The conference's leading goal-scorer in 2007, Sara Stern, picked up the assist on the first goal 15 minutes in by Emily Finnerud before adding a goal of her own 8 minutes, 18 seconds into the second half.
The Spartans' immediate present and future hang heavily on the skills of freshman phenom Jacie Jermier, who, thanks to relentless attention by midfielder Catie Eiserman, didn't register a point.
"It was such a fast-paced game and every one of their players have exceptional skill," O'Neill said. "Our girls were extremely tenacious."
Monroe keeper Niamh O'Neill-Culhane stopped 23 of the 25 shots she faced and Adrienne Rust stopped six shots to post the clean sheet.
O'Neill credited Abby Lubeck for making several strong runs and tracking several marks, while Emily Siefert added solid runs and Alyssa Studer's sweeping highlighted Monroe's brightest spots.
"I know they surprised McFarland," O'Neill said of her team.
Monroe looks for its first victory in conference or otherwise Tuesday when it visits Stoughton.
