Missed chances leave Rockets with a loss

AGGRESSIVE PLAY helped the Ozaukee girls’ soccer team post a 2-1 win over Random Lake in a Big East Conference game May 15. Marta Arroqui (24) tried to control the ball against an equally determined foe.

Abby Miller (21) scored the Warriors’ first goal in the match. Photos by Sam Arendt
It took until mid-May and missed opportunities for the Cedar Grove-Belgium girls to lose their first soccer game this season.
But the Rockets bounced back with three more victories.
On May 15, the Rockets lost to Big East Conference opponent St. Mary Central, 2-1.
“We outpossessed and outshot St. Mary Central, 27 to 13. Too many opportunities squandered,” Cedar Grove-Belgium coach Elias Garza said.
The Zephyrs held a 1-0 lead at halftime, thanks to some luck.
A corner kick was deflected by the Rockets’ goalie but fell right to a Zephyrs player for a tap-in, Garza said.
A goal on a quick counterattack in the second half put St. Mary Central up, 2-0. It was another score on a rebound after a deflection.
The Rockets’ Kelsey Lukens scored in the 88th minute on an assist from Jessica Rose.
“A frantic finish would ensue, with Haven Lanser just missing a shot seconds from time,” Garza said.
“Not being able to finish opportunities finally caught up to us against a quality opponent, despite outplaying them. It was a valuable lesson moving forward.”
On May 17, the Rockets knocked off Sheboygan Falls, 4-1, for a road win.
They outshot the Falcons, 36-10.
Abby Kraus scored two goals, and Amy TenHaken and Rose had once each. Lukens, Kirstin Ozscuzik, Haven Minick and Haven Lanser each had an assist.
“We needed to put the previous game behind us, and the girls were able to play well particularly with their possession game,” Garza said.
Goalie Brooke Braga made two saves.
Last Friday, the Rockets blew out Valders on the road, 9-0.
They outshot their opponent, 62-1.
Kraus scored five goals, and Brittany Teunissen, TenHaken, Rose and Lanser added one each.
TenHaken, Alex Mentink, Minick, Emilie Beaudry, Shelby Cooney, Ellie Felsinger and Alyssa Mentink each had an assist.
“We were able to spread the playing time around and get different looks with our personnel. We generated many chances and controlled the game,” Garza said.
“It was nice to ease up some knowing we would have another match the following day.”
On Saturday, the Rockets resumed play at New Holstein at the 22-minute mark in a game that had been postponed due to bad weather.
Cedar Grove-Belgium won, 2-0, after outshooting the Huskies, 29-4.
“I’m appreciative of the ability to generate these opportunities, but we still need to improve on percentage of shots made,” Garza said.
Teunissen and Kraus scored one goal each, and Rose had two assists.
“We had solid defensive play limiting New Holstein with their attack. It’s pleasing knowing we can depend on the girls in every third to defend in this manner,” Garza said.
The Rockets improved to 9-1-1 overall and in the Big East. This week, they were scheduled to host Roncalli on Tuesday and Howards Grove (6-2-2 Big East) on Thursday.
Oostburg leads the Big East at 10-0-1. The Rockets and Lady Dutch tied in their only meeting this season.
Warriors come up short in two of three
The Ozaukee girls’ soccer team lost two of three games last week, but it could have just as easily been the other way around.
On May 15, the Warriors beat Random Lake, 2-1, at home.
Abby Miller gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute with a shot outside the 18-yard box on assist from Sonnet Bayer.
“Abby has a very strong leg. She’s very shy when it comes to taking shots,” Ozaukee coach Ivan Garcia said.
“I’ve been asking her the whole season, ‘I need you to take more shots.’ When she does, she has a good foot.”
In the 42nd minute, Cayleigh Ebersold scored on a shot outside the box on an assist from Tammy Landing.
“Cayleigh took a nice shot outside the 18. I would like to see more shots being taken from outside the 18,” Garcia said.
In a 4-1 loss at St. Mary Central on May 17, the Warriors let one get away.
When Bayer scored from outside the box, the Warriors held a 1-0 lead.
“Our defense was playing awesome,” Garcia said.
But the Zephyrs tied the game on a penalty kick, and the game remained 1-1 for a long time.
With less than 15 minutes left, defensive mistakes by Ozaukee allowed the Zephyrs to score two more goals, and they added another late tally.
“We played one hell of a game. I thought for sure we had that game,” Garcia said.
“We were passing and controlling the ball much better. I was happy with what I see in the team.”
In a rescheduled game at Kiel last Saturday, the Warriors lost, 2-0.
Garcia said a few key players were missing with other commitments. “We pretty much played everybody,” he said.
Garcia said he is still happy with how the season is going.
“If we play the same way against St. Mary’s without making those mistakes, I think we have a pretty good shot,” he said.
“They’re fighting to the end. Their passing has improved as season has gone on.”
This week, the Warriors (4-6-1 in the Big East and 7-6-1 overall) were scheduled to host Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah on Tuesday and play at New Holstein on Thursday. On May 29, Ozaukee will play at Mayville.
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