MONROE - The Monroe boys soccer players on the sideline remained quiet after the game Tuesday, as if the Cheesemakers had lost.
In fact, the Cheesemakers played DeForest to a 2-2 tie at Honey Creek Park.
But Monroe (3-1-1) scored two goals in the first 15 minutes and led 2-1 most of the game.
"I think this game definitely shows we really have to play 110 percent every game," Monroe senior Niven Tomasiewicz said.
Monroe freshman Anthany Hernandez scored on a header off assists from Tomasiewicz and senior McKenzy Foley just 3 minutes, 31 seconds into the game. Moments later, Tomasiewicz hammered a shot to the near post, scoring a goal on an assist from freshman Nick Schumacher to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead.
With the Cheesemakers clinging to a 2-1 lead, it appeared that Monroe senior midfielder Leon Vu was pushed inside the box in the 54th minute, but no foul was called and therefore no penalty kick awarded.
"There is not a spot where we would have felt completely comfortable that we would win," Tomasiewicz said. "That third goal would have meant a lot. We just have to keep our heads cool and score next time."
Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said it was great for the Cheesemakers to face some competition.
"To get the start we wanted and to drop off was really disappointing," Vasquez said. "If they want to win we have to eliminate some of our mental and physical mistakes. When they start to pile up, that is when we get in trouble."
The Cheesemakers were called for four offsides as they looked to attack the Norskies.
"That was kind of a mental thing," Vasquez said. "Our guys up top know better. They were being a little jumpy."
Despite the Norskies outshooting the Cheesemakers 17-7, the Cheesemakers were in the driver's seat early and looked like they would pull out a tight nonconference game. Hernandez's header goal in the first 4 minutes set the stage for a physical game.
"It felt really good because we had a confidence boost, and I thought we could win the game," Hernandez said of his goal.
DeForest's Wes McNeese scored the game-tying goal by lofting a high arcing shot just over the outstretched arms of Monroe junior goalkeeper Atticus Pond at 64:59.
Pond had a game-high 15 saves.
"Atticus did a great job," Vasquez said. "There were a lot of things he did really well. He was talking really well and in the first half he was letting our guys set up before the goal kick or punt. He's improving. We are having him keep working to get better before the conference games start."
The Cheesemakers had several late opportunities, but a golden opportunity went awry late in the second half. The Norskies were called for a tripping penalty with 8 seconds to go. Monroe junior Ryne Miller was trying to set up for a direct kick, and the Norskies were standing too close to the ball in a last-ditch attempt to make a wall and the time expired without Miller getting a shot off.
"It was a dangerous area to have a kick," Vasquez said. "There are little things you can do as a team when you are trying to take a kick, like getting in the way of the ref. It would have been nice if we could have done something with that."
In fact, the Cheesemakers played DeForest to a 2-2 tie at Honey Creek Park.
But Monroe (3-1-1) scored two goals in the first 15 minutes and led 2-1 most of the game.
"I think this game definitely shows we really have to play 110 percent every game," Monroe senior Niven Tomasiewicz said.
Monroe freshman Anthany Hernandez scored on a header off assists from Tomasiewicz and senior McKenzy Foley just 3 minutes, 31 seconds into the game. Moments later, Tomasiewicz hammered a shot to the near post, scoring a goal on an assist from freshman Nick Schumacher to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead.
With the Cheesemakers clinging to a 2-1 lead, it appeared that Monroe senior midfielder Leon Vu was pushed inside the box in the 54th minute, but no foul was called and therefore no penalty kick awarded.
"There is not a spot where we would have felt completely comfortable that we would win," Tomasiewicz said. "That third goal would have meant a lot. We just have to keep our heads cool and score next time."
Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said it was great for the Cheesemakers to face some competition.
"To get the start we wanted and to drop off was really disappointing," Vasquez said. "If they want to win we have to eliminate some of our mental and physical mistakes. When they start to pile up, that is when we get in trouble."
The Cheesemakers were called for four offsides as they looked to attack the Norskies.
"That was kind of a mental thing," Vasquez said. "Our guys up top know better. They were being a little jumpy."
Despite the Norskies outshooting the Cheesemakers 17-7, the Cheesemakers were in the driver's seat early and looked like they would pull out a tight nonconference game. Hernandez's header goal in the first 4 minutes set the stage for a physical game.
"It felt really good because we had a confidence boost, and I thought we could win the game," Hernandez said of his goal.
DeForest's Wes McNeese scored the game-tying goal by lofting a high arcing shot just over the outstretched arms of Monroe junior goalkeeper Atticus Pond at 64:59.
Pond had a game-high 15 saves.
"Atticus did a great job," Vasquez said. "There were a lot of things he did really well. He was talking really well and in the first half he was letting our guys set up before the goal kick or punt. He's improving. We are having him keep working to get better before the conference games start."
The Cheesemakers had several late opportunities, but a golden opportunity went awry late in the second half. The Norskies were called for a tripping penalty with 8 seconds to go. Monroe junior Ryne Miller was trying to set up for a direct kick, and the Norskies were standing too close to the ball in a last-ditch attempt to make a wall and the time expired without Miller getting a shot off.
"It was a dangerous area to have a kick," Vasquez said. "There are little things you can do as a team when you are trying to take a kick, like getting in the way of the ref. It would have been nice if we could have done something with that."
