K.H.S. Boys Soccer Earns Seventh Seed in Playos

KHS BOYS SOCCER

A struggling Winneconne Wolves traveled to Kewaskum for the final East Central Conference game ever on a chilly Tuesday, October 15. The conference is being disbanded and teams have been entered either into restructured or newly created conferences for next year. So, both teams are looking to go out with a bang. Although Winneconne has struggled this season with getting winning results, they have been in all of their games. They do not give up a lot of goals and rely on their defense to keep them in games and hope to steal a result. Kewaskum will have to play smart and under control to not allow a sneaky opportunity get by them.

The home team dominated possession through the first 25 minutes creating a number of chances but, as they do, with growing confidence got a little out of their game plan and began firing shots from long distances. Like the rest of the season, this game was no dierent, and they were not able to get many on target or any past the capable Winneconne goalkeeper. So, it is no wonder that the Indians got their first goal of the game when Mac Hasse sent in a corner kick that was cleared out of the middle, played back to the junior midfielder by Luciano Olla, then crossed back in to a charging Charlie Gambino who redirected the cross with a header to a waiting Colton Rabe who hammered a shot to the far post. More and more shots continued to get put in towards the goal for Kewaskum but they either got pushed away from the keeper or blocked by the defense who collapsed the middle of the field to prevent a further deficit by half time. The tactic worked as the one goal was all the Indians could muster in the first half.

The second half was more of the same from the Indians with complete dominance in the possession game but they, unfortunately, could not put anything past the Winneconne defense. That was until 11 minutes into the half when birthday boy Luciano Olla headed home a perfectly lofted corner kick delivery from his brother, Ali Olla. Less than a minute later, Mac Hasse blasted home a 30-yard missile to increase the Kewaskum lead to 3-0. With the game in hand, Kewaskum began relying on some of their newer talent to preserve their lead. Freshman midfi elder AJ Droese really stepped out of his shell in this game providing valuable minutes in the central midfield, while sophomore Evan Daley really showed what the coaching sta has been waiting for from him by demonstrating his capabilities both in the defensive back line and midfi eld. Blake Staral and Ryan Perales continue to improve and have proven to be more and more reliable, while newly called up varsity member Joel Maas got some of his first minutes and exposure to the higher level.

It was another good display of team eort where most everyone was able to get in and contribute to the team’s shutout victory. A great way to end the EEC tenure for Kewaskum boys soccer and to rebound from a rough end of the previous week. With one game to go in the season and the playos right around the corner, the Indians need to continue to work to get their hopes of a deep run further into the playos to fruition. The talent and ability is there. The team work and organization needs to continue to gel and then the sky’s the limit for this team.

Vs Kiel

Another beautiful, fall evening for soccer at the Doc Mitchell complex. The Kewaskum boys played host to the wissports.com Division 4, second- ranked Kiel Raiders. Kewaskum hasn’t fared well this season against ranked opponents, and in the first few minutes of the game, this looked to be the same.

Kiel came out hot and earned a corner kick right o the bat. A poor marking eort from the Indians, luckily, didn’t result in a score from the Raiders but it definitely gave the visitors a head full of confidence because they continued to pour on the oensive pressure. Kewaskum could not get the ball out of their defensive third and allowed Kiel to push their way into the penalty area with ease and space. An early reactionary save from senior goalkeeper Riley Kuehl and a re-directed clearance from junior left back Braydin Gell had just enough on it so the crashing attacker from Kiel could only put a shot into the See KHS SOCCER page 13

Eli Steinbauer (#3) hustles past the Kiel defense during the last game before playoffs on Thursday, Oct. 17.

Tyler Kehres (#26) and Riley Kuehl (#7) share a photo together after Thursday’s win against Kiel.

Luciano Olla (#6) and Mac Hasse (#5) keep the ball in Kewaskum’s possession in the game against Winneconne. KHS SOCCER

from page 10 outside netting of the goal that kept the score 0-0.

Kewaskum had multiple turnovers that allowed the Raiders to continue to pour on the pressure and had the Kewaskum defense reeling. Right up until Kiel played an errand pass right to Kewaskum’s center back Will Haydin, who played a one touch pass up to Mac Hasse, who then pushed a pass to Colton Rabe, who was slashing to the middle of the pitch and then threaded a beautiful ball through the backfield of the Raiders defense right to Eli Steinbauer, who just flat outpaced the entire defense, made a slight move to avoid the collapsing keeper, and passed the ball into the back of the net for the first score of the game. It was a perfect result for a really well executed counter attack from the Indians team.

Kiel continued to put on the pressure but with the one goal cushion, Kewaskum began to relax a bit and play more composed. They still struggled to get a possession advantage going with some needless turnovers and a very physically aggressive defensive pressure from the Kiel team. So physical that we saw junior winger Charlie Gambino go down with injury not once but twice and saw an altercation between a Kiel attacker and a Kewaskum defender that resulted in a yellow card for the Indians’ defender.

The first half ran through as a back-and-forth affair with Kuehl being called upon a few more times to keep the goal clear and the rest of the defense to do just enough to keep the Raiders far enough out to not allow them to test the Kewaskum keeper too severely. A 1-0 scoreline at the half was a very good result for the home side.

The second half was more of the same as a back-and-forth affair with Kiel, controlling the majority of the possession.

Kewaskum struggled trying to string long passing combinations together all evening, which directly contributed to Kiel’s continued presence in Kewaskum’s defensive end of the field and earning them a 10 to 2 advantage in corner kick opportunities. Fortunately, the Kewaskum defense, again, did just enough to keep the Raiders from putting one over the goal line. Kiel continued to put pressure on the home team’s defense, which had everyone on edge with concerns of how long they could hold out before giving up an equalizing score. Kewaskum continued to hold off the Raiders’ advances and stepped up to the physical play in the game, which did pay dividends when striker Colton Rabe got bowled over just past the half field line. Following a brief conference, Ali Olla stepped to the free kick and delivered a dime to a leaping Mac Hasse who deftly headed the ball up and over the outstretched arm of the Kiel keeper to give the Indians a twogoal cushion 12 minutes into the second half.

Kiel continued, and may have even increased, their physical play, trying to get back into the game. With the playoffs a week away and after a long season, the Indians began subbing out their bigger minute guys for fresher legs. Bryce Wildt, Evan Daley, and Blake Staral all contributed off the bench to bring home a hard fought but well-earned shutout victory, their seventh, to close out the season for the Kewaskum Indians’ boys soccer team. With a 10-7 record and a No. 7 seed in their sectional, the Kewaskum Indians had a successful season, so far. As the playoffs approach, the team seems to be putting some things together and looking to make some noise and a deep run in the state tournament.

It all starts Thursday, October 24 at 7 p.m. at home in the Doc Mitchell complex when they play host to the Marinette Marines. Come out and cheer on your team, Kewaskum!

Goalkeeper Riley Kuehl (#7) keeps Winneconne from scoring on the shot in last Tuesday night’s home game.

Luciano Olla (#6), Oliver Grover (#8), Will Haydin (#23), Colton Rabe (#4), and Eli Steinbauer (#3) on the field at a recent home game.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS