Wauwatosa West girls soccer team seeks Woodland title

The Wauwatosa West girls soccer team went 2-2 last week, but coach Ryan Bailey's team won the most important matches.

People are taking notice of the Trojans, who are 11-2-3 overall coming into this week and 9-0-1 in the Woodland Conference. West played its final conference game at Whitnall on Tuesday (May 17), and a win or tie gives the Trojans the outright conference championship. The Falcons are 4-5 overall, 3-4 in league play.

The state's coaches have noticed the Trojans and ranked them fourth in Division 2 this week behind Waukesha West (12-1-2), Whitefish Bay (8-2-3) and Cedarburg (7-2-2).

"I told the girls that is good to be a favorite and to create excitement as long the expectations and goals set are still being met," Bailey said. "We have been ranked in the top five in the state since, and we have stayed at the top of the conference from our first game until our last despite each team trying their best to knock us off."

Greenfield

West blanked Greenfield, 4-0, on May 10, to begin the week. It took the Trojans longer than they wanted to score, but Irene Phillips finally did in the 34th minute off a pass from Gaby Zabala.

Shortly after, Kate Murphy took a ball from Hannah Fuerstenau, split their back line and calmly tucked her finish in the 36th minute for a 2-0 halftime lead.

After half, West was able to open the game up and make the field big.

Erin Schaut (49th minute) and Emily Wagy (68th minute) both scored additional goals.

"Once again, we kept a clean sheet," Bailey said. "With Pewaukee beating New Berlin Eisenhower tonight (May 10), we are two wins from winning the Woodland Conference."

Brown Deer

Tosa West beat Brown Deer, 14-0, on May 12 on Senior Night, scoring 11 times in the first half.

"We were able to give our seniors a great Senior Night as all but two seniors were able to score," Bailey said.

Lindsay Starrett, Sam Struck, Kate Murphy all scored two goals. Emily O'Connell, Gaby Zabala, Anna Ganser, Marissa Justin, Haley Orlowski, Bridget Obligato, Caitlin Campbell and Schaut each had one.

Assists were given out by Zabala (four), Kayla Stoffel, Starrett, Wagy, Jenna Strand and Schaut.

Germantown Quad

The Trojans lost two nonconference matches in Germantown, falling to host Warhawks (3-4-3) on Friday and Sussex Hamilton (9-3-2) on Saturday.

Tosa West lost, 4-3, to Germantown, going down 3-1 by conceding three times in 12 minutes.

"We were able to come back and tie it in the second half but did not keep the momentum as we gave up the winner in the 76th minute," Bailey said. "We made uncharacteristic mistakes, which led to all four goals, in addition to missing easy chances."

Goals were scored by Chloe Pepke, and O'Connell scored twice, while Zabala had two assists and Pepke one.

Hamilton

The Chargers defeated the Trojans, 3-1, on Saturday.

"We were shorthanded against Sussex but still could have had a better result," Bailey said. "We went down in the first minute when we let their midfielder get 20 yards of space, and it was a simple run and finish. Later in the half, we were caught forward and got countered where once again they were able to play a simple ball for an easy finish."

West played better in the second half and scored their only goal by Zabala from Phillips.

"We had chances to level but did not convert, and Sussex was able to get a penalty kick 3-1," Bailey said.