Wauwatosa East girls soccer team jump-starts season with two wins

The Wauwatosa East girls soccer team placed third in the Greater Metro Conference last season and recorded an overall record of 18-4-1.

Two of their losses came at the hands of Brookfield East, one in conference play (2-1) and one in the WIAA regional play (3-1).

Tosa East will return two of its top three point-scorers in senior Chyna Sincere and sophomore Liz Bueckers. With an experienced lineup and several starting players returning, the Raiders have high hopes and expectations for a tremendous season in the spring of 2016.

"I believe our team speed and skilled midfield play will be our strengths this season," coach Eric Dale said. "Having seasoned veteran captains in Lily (Brock), Catherine (Carter) and Kamrynn (Lamontagne) will benefit our younger players."

East has five returning all-conference performers out of 13 returning letter winners, including second-team selections Brock (goalkeeper), Bueckers (forward) and Carter (midfielder). Sincere (forward) and Sarah Lessila (defender) were honorable mention.

Other returnees are seniors Lamontagne, Anne Oleniczak, Bailey Berlin, Clara Kuranz, Ali Herbst, Riley Johnson and Lauren Minette and sophomore Elyse Reagan.

Seven newcomers to watch are juniors Lizzy Brzezinski, Karley Haar and Jordyn Summerfield and sophomores Crosbie Kowalski, Evan Knauss, Kyra Meach and Mariana Ibanez-Baldor.

The Red Raiders opened with a 5-0 win at Waukesha North on April 6, taking a 3-0 lead into the second half.

Sincere (Bueckers assist), Carter (Bueckers assist) and Kowalski (Ibanez-Baldor) scored in the first half. In the second half, Berlin (Lessila assist) and Kowalski (Knauss) got on the board.

The next day, the Red Raiders won, 2-0, at Whitefish Bay, scoring a goal in each half.

Bueckers had a unassisted goal in the 32nd minute for a 1-0 halftime lead, and then Sincere passed to Carter for a score in the 61st minute.

Madison West nipped East, 2-1, on April 9 at home to end the week. They gave up goals to West in the 45th minute and the 49th minute.

"We certainly opened the week against some quality sides, but as I always tell both our boys and girls players at East, 'You won't get any better playing weaker teams,'" Dale said.