Toddler Traumas Funny Mummy Siobhan Sings Some Words of Warning | Semifinals | Bgt 2019

The key Thursday night was not to panic.

The Divine Savior Holy Angels girls soccer team didn't just fall into a 1-0 hole against Waunakee in a WIAA Division 1 semifinal at Uihlein Soccer Park, the Dashers were struggling to get chances. They didn't have a shot on goal in the first half and managed just two for the game.

The team, however, made the most of its opportunities and as a result its hope for a second straight state championship remains alive.

Junior Jane Martin finished with one goal and one assist in the DSHA's 2-1 overtime victory in the final match of the day.

More:No. 1 seed Whitefish Bay advances to Division 2 final. Up next is Oregon, the nation's No. 1 team.

Martin scored the winner in the 90th minute on a 50-50 ball she reached from about 20 yards out. Her high-arching shot was just out of the reach of goalkeeper Emily Whyte.

The moment left the junior beaming.

"The biggest thing is I knew when we jumped on the field that we were going need to play as a team, and to have the composure to score in a moment like that was important," Martin said. "It's something I developed over the season and I think the girls are really supportive and work together.

"The biggest thing is we want to play another game together because we just love being around each other."

Martin's plays plus a couple of sure-handed grabs by senior goalkeeper Kate Nonn on corner kicks or the ball rolling in the box late in the game helped DSHA, seeded third in the bracket, improve to 20-2-2. It will face No. 1 seed Muskego in the championship game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The teams met May 20, when Muskego won, 1-0.

The game Thursday was reminiscent of last year's semifinal when DSHA defeated Kenosha Bradford, 2-1, in overtime before winning the title.

The Dashers never trailed in that game. This time they gave up a late first-half goal to junior Faith Ellickson off a pass from junior MaKenna Nachreiner in the 38th minute.

It was at that point DSHA's experience paid off most.

"I think having nine seniors who have been through it before creates a calming effect," DSHA coach Kevin Roethe said. "We talked at halftime about how a team has never won without overcoming a little adversity throughout the game. It was a mentality of bring a little more energy in the second half.

"We knew it was a matter of time before we put one in the back of the net."

The game was a grind on both sides. Each team finished with seven shots. Two of DSHA's were on goal. Waunakee had six, but only two of those came in the second half and overtime.

The Dashers tied the game in the 50th minute on a header by junior Ashley Jones. Martin set up that play by threading the ball through a couple of defenders to Jones.

"I knew if I could get my foot there, she could capitalize," Martin said.

The game was part of Martin's continued evolution as a player. Last year she scored eight goals and two assists coming off the bench. This season she emerged as the team's second-leading scorer behind senior Sofia Miranda. And Thursday night she was the hero.

"Last year I got to sit and watch a lot and I watched how the girls acted and I played under a really strong forward and she taught me how to be composed in big games," Martin said. "I knew we wanted to win state again because it's really, really fun. It took a lot to get here, but I think we're ready."

Sikorski plays big for Muskego

A season filled with so much potential for Muskego is on the cusp of becoming the stuff of champions.

The Warriors, who spent a good portion of the season ranked No. 1 in the area and in the state, defeated De Pere, 2-0, in the first semifinal.

Sophomore forward Anna Sikorski scored one goal and one assist for the top-seeded Warriors (17-1-3).

With temperatures pushing 90, it was the hottest game of the year. The conditions, which necessitated a hydration break during the halves of each game, proved to be a minor inconvenience.

"So far it's the hottest came we've played, especially on turf, but our mindset going into the game was that we knew it was going to be hot," Sikorski said. "We just had to play through it."

The semifinal marked a strong showing for the Warriors, who controlled he ball with impressive precision considering the windy conditions.

They outshot the Redbirds, 19-2, including a 14-2 advantage in the second half. Only one of those attempts was on goal.

Muskego played the first half into the wind but managed the only goal it would need in the 37th minute when freshman Kiara Muench found Sikorski in the middle and Sikorski shot for the post.

In the second half, Sikorski set up sophomore Maggie Mattek in the 63rd minute for the score that erased any doubt of the outcome.

The victory was Muskego's 13th shutout of the season. Sophomore Amelia Schuh and junior Greta Czachor, De Pere's leading scorers, finished with one shot between them.

"They came in with almost double the goals that we've scored this season," Muskego coach Lance Matthews said. "We knew we had to press them in the middle of the field in order to prevent them from getting the ball into the feet of their dangerous players. The girls did a good job of it. Constant pressure for 80 minutes did it for us."

The win sets up a handful of Muskego players to win a second state title.

Seniors Sophia Balistreri, Mady Wojcik, Hailey Grohall and Morgan Tews were part of the Warriors' 2019 championship. Sikorski helped DSHA win the title last year.

"I feel really grateful," she said. "Winning it two years in a row would be really nice. This team deserved it because we've worked hard all season. We've been working toward this goal all season, so we're excited to be there."

millerexectim.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/high-schools/2022/06/16/updates-muskego-dsha-2022-wiaa-division-1-soccer-semifinals/7644957001/

Share this post