Rockets complete the repeat-repeat-repeat

By MITCH MAERSCH

Ozaukee Press staff

After sealing a fourth straight Big East Conference title, the Cedar Grove-Belgium High School’s girls’ soccer team didn’t slow its momentum in a nonconference game against a school nearly seven times larger last Friday.

The Rockets dominated visiting West Bend East/West, 6-0.

Coach Zac Garza called it the “best game of the season.”

“It was almost like the chains were off and the team was playing with some freedom,” he said.

Cedar Grove-Belgium has 296 students. West Bend’s combined high schools have 2,084.

Sophomore Cora Erickson, the state’s leading scorer, put in another three goals. Sophomore Grace Konzak scored twice and had two assists, and junior Hailey Prom scored once. Olivia Bahr, Aubrey Marti, Tara Schmitz and Gracie Schmidt each had one assist.

Aubrey Johnson made one save, and fellow keeper Payton Dodson didn’t need to make any.

“We knew we had to come out strong against our opponents because we’ve been struggling with that right off the bat, so we knew we had to do it and we did it today,:” Konzak said.

“We still took it as hard as we could definitely, because every game counts, especially because we’re leading up to playoffs,” Prom said.

On May 16, the Rockets faced their toughest test of the week at Oostburg. They led, 1-0, at halftime and won, 3-0.

Erickson, Aubrey Marti and Alexis Bahr each had one goal. Bahr, Erickson and Prom each had an assist. Dodson made three saves.

“We knew our last hard obstacle would be Oostburg, our rival, and it was a pretty tough game for us,” Erickson said. “We just started off not as strong as we normally do, but we still got it and got the conference title.”

“They’re always so strong defensively and they fight for everything and they make you work,” Garza said.

His team still managed 30 shots.

“We certainly controlled things and moved the ball,” Garza said.

At St. Mary Catholic last Thursday, the Rockets won, 8-0, to seal another undefeated Big East season. Erickson had three goals. Konzak, Alexis and Olivia Bahr, Kahleah Knight and Kami Horn each had a goal. Konzak had three assists, and Marti, Erickson, Alexis Bahr, Grace Guguer and Elena Engevold each had one.

The Rockets finished 8-0 in the Big East. Oostburg and Howards Grove are each 6-2.

Despite having just three seniors, the Rockets’ dominance in the conference continues. Their league title streak dates to 2019 since the pandemic caused the cancellation of one season.

“I don’t think another team in school history has had it where the seniors have won every year they’ve been in high school,” Alexis Bahr said.

“It’s phenomenal what these ladies have been able to accomplish and how much they’ve improved as a collective throughout the season,” Garza said.

“Our team is very young and it’s very talented. I think they’re definitely going to succeed in the future too,” Prom said.

“We’re all so close and I love it. Every girl, there’s not really one group. We’re all one group and I love it.”

Konzak has become a potent scoring weapon when defenses collapse on Erickson. She is second on the team with 13 goals.

“I know I’m not as fast as Cora, so if I have a chance I’m going to pass it to her and have her get the shot, but when I’m open I’ll take the long shots,” she said.

“She gives us something else off the dribble. She reminds me of Madison Bohacek,” Garza said, referencing an all-conference player from 2021.

“When she has the ball, you feel like something can happen, whether it’s a killer pass or a strike from distance.”

Erickson has 51 goals. She had 55 last season, shattering the school record and scoring the second most in the state.

The Rockets were to host Living Word Lutheran on Tuesday, May 23, and St. Mary’s Springs on Thursday, May 25.

They earned a No. 1 seed in the Division 4 playoffs and host the winner of No. 9 Winnebago Lutheran and No. 8 Columbus on Saturday, June 3. If the seeds hold, the Rockets would face No. 2 Oostburg on June 10 for a trip to state.

Ozaukee wins one, ties one

Ozaukee continued its program’s resurgence, going 1-0-1 last week.

Neely Kunz scored twice in a 5-1 win at Random Lake on May 16, bringing the traveling trophy, the Oar, to Fredonia for the first time since 2018.

Ellie Rodgers, Savannah Quade and Emily Luza each scored once. Reese Prom and Meredith Clark each had one assist.

Prom could have scored but kicked the ball out of bounds when the Rams’ keeper went down with a knee injury.

“I have preached sportsmanship from day one, and I think that  one there tops the list,” coach Eric Paulus said.

Keeper Izzy Decker made eight saves.

Last Thursday at Sheboygan Lutheran/Christian, the Warriors forged a 2-2 tie.

Kamrin Kunz and Clark each scored once. The Warriors battled back twice from one-goal deficits.

Paulus put in an attack front late in the game and the Warriors pressured at the end but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Ozaukee, 4-3-1 in the Big East and 11-4-1 overall, was to play at Lomira on Tuesday, May 23, and host Brown Deer on Thursday, May 25.

Ozaukee got a 6 seed and hosts No. 11 Mayville on Thursday, June 1.