MONROE - Coach John Ziperski made no secret that implementing a new defensive scheme was the top priority for his Sugar River girls soccer team this spring.
That agenda has come with some costs.
"What we've really been missing the first half of the season is a little bit of danger up top," Ziperski said of the Raiders' offensive attack.
Sierra Watrud is more than happy to provide the "danger" for the Raiders.
The sophomore played solely at forward for the first time this season on Monday. The dividends were immediate as she scored the first two goals in Sugar River's 5-1 thumping of Monroe at Honey Creek Park.
Watrud also picked up two assists in a dominating effort in the non-conference contest.
A solid contributor as a freshman for last season's 22-victory squad, Watrud has spent the majority of the season's first half as an outside midfielder.
"We had her at the outside mid while we've been developing some other mids," Ziperski said. "Now getting an attack out of her ... she can be a dangerous player."
Watrud scored in the 14th and 18th minutes, the first goal coming off a crisp cross from Shelby Hubbard and the second the result of an impressive individual effort in which she beat two Monroe defenders before settling the ball and punching it past Cheesemakers goalkeeper Rachel Wellnitz.
Watrud had logged some minutes at forward this season, but usually late in games after playing in the midfield. Not surprisingly, she was quite pleased to move up top to start Monday's game.
"I like it better than the midfield, yeah. I like the scoring opportunities," said Watrud, who giggled when asked if she was trying to send her coach a message with the two quick goals.
In spite of her slight frame, Watrud played strong against Monroe's defenders.
"I've been learning to be more physical and use my body," she said.
"She's pretty quick and for a little girl, can hold people from pushing her off the ball," Ziperski said. "It's nice to see her really show what she can do. I think last year's time on the varsity helped her and she's really able to step in and be a strong finisher."
Jaimie Ott's goal in the 37th minute pushed Sugar River's lead to 3-0 entering halftime. The Cheesemakers pulled within 3-1 when Gabby Ludwig scored off Madeline Knutson's assist in the 67th minute, but the Raiders' Hubbard and Mandi Sargent scored in the 75th and 80th minutes, respectively.
Sugar River's Trish Boley moved from forward to the midfield and Ziperski said she was a big reason the offense flowed like it did.
"What it was really about was moving Trish to the midfield and getting some consistency there," Ziperski said.
Both teams played without key personnel - the Raiders (6-4-2) missing junior midfielder Riley Rung and the Cheesemakers (4-5) minus sophomore midfielder Vanessa Studer due to injuries.
Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill was disappointed her team couldn't put up a better fight against the Raiders and senior goalkeeper Raylynn Jelle (seven saves).
"Everyone was kind of tired and a little bit flat from the very beginning," O'Neill said of the Cheesemakers. "Every season you have one of those games where nothing's going right. Hopefully that's our one game for the season. I don't mind losing a game if you had a good game, but I think the girls all realize they were a little bit flat.
"(The Raiders) have a strong team. They have fast forwards and they have a good defensive unit that was hard to break through. We just needed a little more organization."
Ziperski said the solid victory could serve as a spark for the second half of the season.
"It was a quality opponent and it was nice to finally hit most of the cylinders," he said.
That agenda has come with some costs.
"What we've really been missing the first half of the season is a little bit of danger up top," Ziperski said of the Raiders' offensive attack.
Sierra Watrud is more than happy to provide the "danger" for the Raiders.
The sophomore played solely at forward for the first time this season on Monday. The dividends were immediate as she scored the first two goals in Sugar River's 5-1 thumping of Monroe at Honey Creek Park.
Watrud also picked up two assists in a dominating effort in the non-conference contest.
A solid contributor as a freshman for last season's 22-victory squad, Watrud has spent the majority of the season's first half as an outside midfielder.
"We had her at the outside mid while we've been developing some other mids," Ziperski said. "Now getting an attack out of her ... she can be a dangerous player."
Watrud scored in the 14th and 18th minutes, the first goal coming off a crisp cross from Shelby Hubbard and the second the result of an impressive individual effort in which she beat two Monroe defenders before settling the ball and punching it past Cheesemakers goalkeeper Rachel Wellnitz.
Watrud had logged some minutes at forward this season, but usually late in games after playing in the midfield. Not surprisingly, she was quite pleased to move up top to start Monday's game.
"I like it better than the midfield, yeah. I like the scoring opportunities," said Watrud, who giggled when asked if she was trying to send her coach a message with the two quick goals.
In spite of her slight frame, Watrud played strong against Monroe's defenders.
"I've been learning to be more physical and use my body," she said.
"She's pretty quick and for a little girl, can hold people from pushing her off the ball," Ziperski said. "It's nice to see her really show what she can do. I think last year's time on the varsity helped her and she's really able to step in and be a strong finisher."
Jaimie Ott's goal in the 37th minute pushed Sugar River's lead to 3-0 entering halftime. The Cheesemakers pulled within 3-1 when Gabby Ludwig scored off Madeline Knutson's assist in the 67th minute, but the Raiders' Hubbard and Mandi Sargent scored in the 75th and 80th minutes, respectively.
Sugar River's Trish Boley moved from forward to the midfield and Ziperski said she was a big reason the offense flowed like it did.
"What it was really about was moving Trish to the midfield and getting some consistency there," Ziperski said.
Both teams played without key personnel - the Raiders (6-4-2) missing junior midfielder Riley Rung and the Cheesemakers (4-5) minus sophomore midfielder Vanessa Studer due to injuries.
Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill was disappointed her team couldn't put up a better fight against the Raiders and senior goalkeeper Raylynn Jelle (seven saves).
"Everyone was kind of tired and a little bit flat from the very beginning," O'Neill said of the Cheesemakers. "Every season you have one of those games where nothing's going right. Hopefully that's our one game for the season. I don't mind losing a game if you had a good game, but I think the girls all realize they were a little bit flat.
"(The Raiders) have a strong team. They have fast forwards and they have a good defensive unit that was hard to break through. We just needed a little more organization."
Ziperski said the solid victory could serve as a spark for the second half of the season.
"It was a quality opponent and it was nice to finally hit most of the cylinders," he said.
