Girls soccer: East loses to DSHA, beats Pius XI

The Brookfield East girls soccer team split two games this past week, dropping a Greater Metro Conference game to Divine Savior Holy Angels, 4-1, on May 15 but bounced back by defeating Pius IX, 1-0, in double overtime on May 17.

The Spartans had to wait though a 30-minute severe-weather delay against DSHA. When the game started, Divine Savior scored at the 12-minute mark off a corner kick when junior Hannah Roth put it in the back of the net off a rebound. They scored again six minutes later when junior Ingrid Mortenson received a perfect pass in stride and blasted it past East goalkeeper Rachel Novak to make the score 2-0.

The Spartans got on the board less than a minute later when senior captain Taylor Swittel sent a bullet through the hands of DSHA's goal keeper to cut the lead in half at 2-1.

But any momentum the Spartans had quickly disappeared when DSHA scored 30 seconds later on a shot by Christina Feller that Novak could not handle to increase the lead to 3-1 at halftime.

Three minutes into the second half Mortenson again got around the outside and took a shot on a severe angle that deflected off East defender Lauren Knudsen into the goal to make the score 4-1.

A few minutes later the severe weather returned, forcing the game to cancel and allowing DSHA to earn the victory.

"One of those games that we've had this season, if it can go wrong, it will," East coach Matt Schroeder said. "I know we have to be better at defending set pieces. Their first goal came off a corner kick; we cannot let that happen."

It was senior night on Thursday when the Spartans took on Pius IX and, unlike the DSHA game, the Spartans created many scoring opportunities. However they were kept off the board in the first half because of the outstanding goalie work by sophomore Anna Benvenuto, who made several outstanding saves.

"Pius' goalkeeper is good," Schroeder said. "I'll give her that and we didn't do well to find the corner of the net. But as far as our attacking shape, it was the best I've seen this season."

At halftime, seniors Swittel, Aly Loepfe, Sarah Hepperla, Christy Caliendo and Gabby Radtke were honored for their work and commitment to the soccer program for the past four years.

The second half continued as the first half, constant pressure by East on Pius's defense. Again great saves by Benvenuto and some bad luck with three balls hitting off the goal post kept the Spartans from scoring.

There was no scoring in the first overtime even though the Spartans put the ball on goal three times. Finally as the second over time began the Spartans Hepperla put a ball in between two defenders to junior Kirstey Lein who put a beautiful shot to the upper half of the goal to win the game.

"I was excited Kirstey ended finishing her chance," Schroeder said. "She has come a long way since the beginning of the season and has been very close the past few games. We'll need her to be a threat down the stretch. Overall it was a much better game for us."