The Wauwatosa West boys soccer team split two games last week, beating Sussex Hamilton, 1-0, in a non-conference match and losing to St. Thomas More in double overtime, 1-0, in a Woodland Conference match.
West's Mark Hewett scored the only goal of the week, but it beat the Chargers on Aug. 23.
'Mark got underneath the second ball off a punt from Jonathon Meyer,' Tosa West coach Ryan Bailey said. 'Mark made an early run to anticipate the ball, settled it, dribbled the keeper and calmly shot it in the open goal. Earlier in the match, Mark was one-on-one with the goalie and shot it early.
'At halftime I told him he would get more chances and when he does he should keep the ball and make a move on the keeper to make him commit. He did it flawlessly and put us up for the final five minutes.'
Bailey was happy to get the victory.
'We did a nice job working for each other and grinding out a win,' he said. 'We created some half chances in the first half, but were unable to make them count. It was an even match throughout and we were lucky enough to net a goal in the last five minutes.'
On Friday, the Trojans were upset by St. Thomas More.
'This was a match where we did not come out with our best effort,' Bailey said. 'The boys worked hard, but did not execute our game plan very well. By doing this, we let an inspired team come to our stadium and defeat us.
'It was a wake-up call for us right before conference kicks off this coming week. The boys know what to correct, and we worked on them at training to improve.'
Against the Cavaliers, the Trojans struggled with their pursuit of the ball. 'We were chasing way too often while not closing down space or covering each other with a second defender.'
Because of this, Thomas More gained confidence and was able to shoot a well-deserved goal in the 93rd minute.
'(Coach) Kevin Dineen has done a great job with their program and they will be dangerous in their new conference and sectional,' Bailey added.
This upcoming week is important as Tosa West plays New Berlin West and Pewaukee, both teams that compete for the conference championship each year.
'We must improve how we play,' Bailey said. 'We have to get cleaner with the ball and more fluid in the 18-yard box. No teams in our conference will give anything but their best shot to knock us off based on our history in the Woodland.'