MONROE - Forward Kevin Noriega couldn't forget the missed scoring opportunities the Monroe boys soccer team couldn't cash in on after a non-conference 4-3 loss to Baraboo Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Honey Creek Park.
"I think to cash in on those shots we need to take some pace off the ball, we have to get it on frame and make the goalie work," Noriega said. "I think we got the shots we wanted. I know especially as a forward, I have to practice on framing the ball more."
Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said finishing off shots is something the Cheesemakers struggled with last year.
"They are getting the ball down the field and crossing it like we want them to," Vasquez said. "We are not going to win the big games if we don't finish. We have to work on finishing. It's definitely something we have to work on. They used a little more energy attacking and to not get the prize (a goal), it takes a lot out of them."
Noriega helped the Cheesemakers strike first with a cross that appeared to be headed for the weak side of the goal, but it bounced and found the back of the net.
"It was a fortunate bounce," Noriega said. "I just wanted to cross it and get it close to the goal and it went in."
Baraboo's Tyler Laux scored two goals to propel the Thunderbirds to a 2-1 lead at the half.
Monroe (1-2-1) had a slew of golden scoring opportunities in the second half with five corner kicks, several crosses and some strong throw-ins by senior Taylor Teasdale. Teasdale lofted a strong indirect kick at the goal and senior Alex Hendrickson punched it in at 45:34 to tie the game at 2. Monroe freshman Ian Salzwedel's game-tying goal in the 50th minute was wiped out when officials ruled he was offsides. Teasdale had a shot that ricocheted off the far post in the 66th minute and Noriega collided with the Thunderbirds' goalkeeper on a shot that just went wide left in the 69th minute.
Vasquez said Salzwedel was just anxious about an opportunity to tie the game before being called offsides.
"From where we were it looked like it was good," Vasquez said. "He's a little new to the game so he was probably offsides."
Teasdale scored the final goal for the Cheesemakers as time expired. One official waved off the goal, but the head official confirmed the goal would stand because he didn't blow his whistle to end the game. It would have been a more controversial call if Salzwedel's goal wouldn't have been waved off for offsides.
Teasdale, who had one goal and one assist, was excited to score, but he would have traded it for a win.
"I wish the game would have been 3-3 and scoring would have been the game-winning goal," Teasdale said. "We should have played better. We didn't play as hard as we should have because everyone was probably tired from the heat.
"Just because we lost doesn't mean we couldn't beat them if we played again."
Monroe junior goalkeeper Austin Murphy had eight saves.
Monroe will host WIAA Division 2 state qualifier Mount Horeb at 5 p.m. Thursday at Honey Creek Park. It will be a good test for a young Cheesemaker team. Noriega has a similar mindset to Teasdale when it comes to this season.
"I think we should have a winning record this year and we should," he said. "We have the talent. We just have to work on finishing."
"I think to cash in on those shots we need to take some pace off the ball, we have to get it on frame and make the goalie work," Noriega said. "I think we got the shots we wanted. I know especially as a forward, I have to practice on framing the ball more."
Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said finishing off shots is something the Cheesemakers struggled with last year.
"They are getting the ball down the field and crossing it like we want them to," Vasquez said. "We are not going to win the big games if we don't finish. We have to work on finishing. It's definitely something we have to work on. They used a little more energy attacking and to not get the prize (a goal), it takes a lot out of them."
Noriega helped the Cheesemakers strike first with a cross that appeared to be headed for the weak side of the goal, but it bounced and found the back of the net.
"It was a fortunate bounce," Noriega said. "I just wanted to cross it and get it close to the goal and it went in."
Baraboo's Tyler Laux scored two goals to propel the Thunderbirds to a 2-1 lead at the half.
Monroe (1-2-1) had a slew of golden scoring opportunities in the second half with five corner kicks, several crosses and some strong throw-ins by senior Taylor Teasdale. Teasdale lofted a strong indirect kick at the goal and senior Alex Hendrickson punched it in at 45:34 to tie the game at 2. Monroe freshman Ian Salzwedel's game-tying goal in the 50th minute was wiped out when officials ruled he was offsides. Teasdale had a shot that ricocheted off the far post in the 66th minute and Noriega collided with the Thunderbirds' goalkeeper on a shot that just went wide left in the 69th minute.
Vasquez said Salzwedel was just anxious about an opportunity to tie the game before being called offsides.
"From where we were it looked like it was good," Vasquez said. "He's a little new to the game so he was probably offsides."
Teasdale scored the final goal for the Cheesemakers as time expired. One official waved off the goal, but the head official confirmed the goal would stand because he didn't blow his whistle to end the game. It would have been a more controversial call if Salzwedel's goal wouldn't have been waved off for offsides.
Teasdale, who had one goal and one assist, was excited to score, but he would have traded it for a win.
"I wish the game would have been 3-3 and scoring would have been the game-winning goal," Teasdale said. "We should have played better. We didn't play as hard as we should have because everyone was probably tired from the heat.
"Just because we lost doesn't mean we couldn't beat them if we played again."
Monroe junior goalkeeper Austin Murphy had eight saves.
Monroe will host WIAA Division 2 state qualifier Mount Horeb at 5 p.m. Thursday at Honey Creek Park. It will be a good test for a young Cheesemaker team. Noriega has a similar mindset to Teasdale when it comes to this season.
"I think we should have a winning record this year and we should," he said. "We have the talent. We just have to work on finishing."
