MONROE - The Monroe boys soccer team used its matchup with a premier soccer team like Mount Horeb as a measuring stick.
Mount Horeb (1-2-1), last year's WIAA Division 2 state runner-up, scored two second half goals to knock off the Cheesemakers 3-1 Thursday, Aug. 29 at Honey Creek Park. Mount Horeb's two losses this season came to Pewaukee, a Division 2 state qualifier last year and Middleton, a Division 1 team.
"I was happy with the way they played," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "I thought they played hard, and until the last couple of minutes we were in a position to tie. When we play a good team we want to be close enough to steal one. This is the team we have to go through if we want to get to state. We have an idea of what the competition will be like if we get deep in the playoffs."
Mount Horeb sophomore Micah Sieg helped the Vikings strike first with a goal on an assist from Joey Peterson at 23 minutes, 19 seconds. Despite dominating the possession of the ball in the first half, the Vikings led the Cheesemakers just 1-0 at the half.
The Cheesemakers had a tough break in the second half when senior Matt Hodgson was called for a penalty on a tackle inside the box. Mount Horeb senior midfielder Austin Kratochwill scored a goal on the penalty kick by hitting a hard lining shot to the far post past a diving Austin Murphy at goalkeeper.
"I was going to my right and he ended up going the opposite way," Murphy said. "I just misread it. Trying to stop Pks is really tough. We couldn't keep the ball on the other end in the first half. We played pretty good. We had our opportunities."
The Cheesemakers out-shot the Vikings 10-9 and capitalized by a tripping penalty by the Vikings late in the second half. The Vikings tripped Monroe junior Kevin Noriega in the box. Monroe senior Taylor Teasdale scored on a penalty kick to slice the Vikings' lead to 2-1 with 53:00 left.
"It gave us some momentum," Vasquez said of Teasdale's penalty kick goal. "The guys played a little harder after that; I didn't see them give up at all."
Mount Horeb sophomore Steven Abalos scored a goal at 66:21 to seal the win for the Vikings. Murphy made two diving saves and one leaping save in the second half to keep the Vikings at bay.
"I thought he (Murphy) played his best game of the year," Vasquez said. "He really kept us in it."
The Cheesemakers have played five games in the first two weeks. Vasquez is looking to getting back to practice to shore up the attacking and finishing shots.
"Looking at our schedule, the first five games are the toughest on our schedule," Vasquez said.
The Cheesemakers have had just one yellow card in the first five games. Vasquez said players must remain under control.
"They have to keep their cool and not get frustrated." Vasquez said. "I could hear the trash talking on the field from the sidelines. Part of the game for us is staying in the mental game. I think they have done a good job with that."
Murphy sees some areas the Cheesemakers can shore up on defense.
"I need to anticipate shots more," Murphy said. "As a team, we have to do a better job of staying on our marks."
Mount Horeb (1-2-1), last year's WIAA Division 2 state runner-up, scored two second half goals to knock off the Cheesemakers 3-1 Thursday, Aug. 29 at Honey Creek Park. Mount Horeb's two losses this season came to Pewaukee, a Division 2 state qualifier last year and Middleton, a Division 1 team.
"I was happy with the way they played," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "I thought they played hard, and until the last couple of minutes we were in a position to tie. When we play a good team we want to be close enough to steal one. This is the team we have to go through if we want to get to state. We have an idea of what the competition will be like if we get deep in the playoffs."
Mount Horeb sophomore Micah Sieg helped the Vikings strike first with a goal on an assist from Joey Peterson at 23 minutes, 19 seconds. Despite dominating the possession of the ball in the first half, the Vikings led the Cheesemakers just 1-0 at the half.
The Cheesemakers had a tough break in the second half when senior Matt Hodgson was called for a penalty on a tackle inside the box. Mount Horeb senior midfielder Austin Kratochwill scored a goal on the penalty kick by hitting a hard lining shot to the far post past a diving Austin Murphy at goalkeeper.
"I was going to my right and he ended up going the opposite way," Murphy said. "I just misread it. Trying to stop Pks is really tough. We couldn't keep the ball on the other end in the first half. We played pretty good. We had our opportunities."
The Cheesemakers out-shot the Vikings 10-9 and capitalized by a tripping penalty by the Vikings late in the second half. The Vikings tripped Monroe junior Kevin Noriega in the box. Monroe senior Taylor Teasdale scored on a penalty kick to slice the Vikings' lead to 2-1 with 53:00 left.
"It gave us some momentum," Vasquez said of Teasdale's penalty kick goal. "The guys played a little harder after that; I didn't see them give up at all."
Mount Horeb sophomore Steven Abalos scored a goal at 66:21 to seal the win for the Vikings. Murphy made two diving saves and one leaping save in the second half to keep the Vikings at bay.
"I thought he (Murphy) played his best game of the year," Vasquez said. "He really kept us in it."
The Cheesemakers have played five games in the first two weeks. Vasquez is looking to getting back to practice to shore up the attacking and finishing shots.
"Looking at our schedule, the first five games are the toughest on our schedule," Vasquez said.
The Cheesemakers have had just one yellow card in the first five games. Vasquez said players must remain under control.
"They have to keep their cool and not get frustrated." Vasquez said. "I could hear the trash talking on the field from the sidelines. Part of the game for us is staying in the mental game. I think they have done a good job with that."
Murphy sees some areas the Cheesemakers can shore up on defense.
"I need to anticipate shots more," Murphy said. "As a team, we have to do a better job of staying on our marks."
