Crusaders end Vikings boys soccer postseason run

The New Berlin West boys kickers knew they were the underdog when they traveled to Pewaukee on Oct. 20 for the WIAA Sectional semifinals.

But the Vikings nipped the Pirates, 2-1, before losing by the same score to Catholic Memorial on Saturday in the sectional championship match.

After all, the Pirates won the Woodland Conference championship (11-1) and were 19-3-1 overall on the year. Two weeks beforehand the Pirates handed the Vikings, a 2-1 defeat, they were the high seed and they had home field advantage.

"If we came into this game loose and no pressure, I think it gave us a competitive edge," West coach Ryan Otten said. "Unfortunately, we played tight for the first 30 minutes of the game and Pewaukee really took it to us. I give them all the credit in the world, as they were able to find cracks in our defense and capitalized on some mistakes we had in the back."

Pewaukee scored in the 26th minute, as Austin Rosenberger served a ball into the middle of the box, which found a Pewaukee player who headed the ball to Austin Klemm for an easy tap-in goal from 6-yards out.

"The final 10 minutes of the half, we were finally able to control tempo and possession," Otten said, "which gave us a little momentum heading into the second half only down by one.

"At halftime we talked about adversity and how we came back to tie Pewaukee during the last match we played. We talked about composure, and having the ability to work together and fight together to get back into this match."

In the second half the Vikings came out and played their game, switching the point of attack and getting some better chances.

Finally, in the 65th minute they switched formations to go more attacking and it paid off in the 73rd minute.

Brock Shilling beat his defender on the left wing, and served a low-driven ball into the box where Kevin Marx found the back of the net from about 6 yards out.

"I really give our kids a lot of credit too," Otten said, "just to never put their heads down and kept fighting until the match was done."

The match ended in regulation as a 1-1 tie and neither team scored in two overtimes.

The shootout was conducted on the north end of the field with West shooting first and Pewaukee shooting second.

Pewaukee's goalkeeper Garrett Shibilski was able to block the first attempt by Brock Shilling and Pewaukee's first attempt was good.

West's Perry Hels scored, though, and Pewaukee missed wide, so it was 1-1.

Then Matt Rink converted the third attempt for a goal, which set up the heroics for Vikings goalkeeper Jesse Steger. Klemm was the third Pewaukee shooter. Steger read the way he was going and saved the shot for a 2-1 lead.

Marx then converted the fourth attempt for a goal, Pewaukee converted for a goal and it was 3-2 in West's favor.

West's last kicker was Max Harty, who drilled in the shot for a 4-2 win in penalty kicks and advancement into the Sectional Finals against Catholic Memorial.

FINALS

Catholic Memorial (14-5-1) defeated the Vikings, 2-1, on Saturday in the sectional finals.

Aaron Horvat scored at 2:46 on an assist by Mark Samuel to give Memorial a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Schilling scored an unassisted goal at 45:37 to tie the game at 1-1.

But Patrick McNulty scored the winning goal at 58:56 to end the Vikings season.

New Berlin West finished the year with a 14-8-4 record.

- Tom "Sky" Skibosh