Wauwatosa East boys soccer team ready to get back in win column

It was a tough week for coach Eric Dale's Wauwatosa East boys soccer team.

The Red Raiders dropped a 4-3 decision to Menomonee Falls on Aug. 27 in their Greater Metro Conference opener at Whitman Field.

They then dropped a 2-1 decision to Pewaukee in overtime on Aug. 28 and then traveled Saturday to Madison West and lost 2-0.

Menomonee Falls

The Red Raiders opened the scoring in the third minute of the match when junior forward Nathan Schoen converted a penalty kick. Play was even for most of the remaining minutes of the first half until the Red Raiders broke down mentally in the last few minutes leading to the Indians tying the game with two minutes left in the half.

A through ball from Falls forward Nick Gonzales was not handled by the East back line. Senior forward Alex Russo collected the carom and converted from 20 yards out.

Moments later, with less than 10 seconds remaining in the first half, the Indians would grab the lead when the East defense slowly closed on a ball near the Raider endline.

An opportunistic Falls defender, Tommy Wolf, retrieved the ball and served a nice pass to the middle of the box where again, Russo found the back of the net.

Schoen converted his second penalty kick in the 50th minute to tie the score, only to see Falls take the lead four minutes later as Gonzales scored off an assist by midfielder Connor Young.

Jacob Lucht scored on a putback opportunity on the far post after a shot by Gonzales in the 57th minute.

The Red Raiders scored in the 62nd minute when senior midfielder Sam Rajaphoumi made the most of a direct free kick chance just outside the 18-yard box drilling a bending near post hit past Falls keeper Erik Vastag.

Pewaukee

The Pirates, a state qualifier last season, nipped the Red Raiders, 2-1, in overtime.

Pewaukee would draw first blood in the 58th minute when sophomore striker Griffin Jende scored on a penalty kick after drawing a foul in the penalty box.

East would force the action after the 60th minute when it brought up a third attacker up front. After relentless pressure for five minutes, the Red Raiders converted when sophomore Ben Prange gathered a well-played ball from junior defender Tanner Wallenkamp and found the far side netting to equalize in the 70th minute.

Jende then scored the golden goal in overtime and sent the Red Raiders home frustrated.

"It was a true nightmare from the opening kick of overtime," Dale said. "We let them dictate the pace and watched them build into our box. And, to their credit, they converted on a tough chance for us.

"We had an opportunity to clear the ball, did not, and the ball finds their best scorer's foot unmarked. Tough loss would be an understatement."

Madison West

The Regents blanked Tosa East, 2-0, on Saturday in Madison's Mansfield Stadium to close out a winless week.

The experienced and physical roster proved too much for Tosa East.

"At the beginning of our season, I told our guys that we cannot have stretches where we lose two, three matches in a week," Dale said. "Well, this will test our resolve heading into this next week. When will we stop the bleeding and go out and start a winning streak?"

Up Next

East, which played Wednesday at Sussex Hamilton, plays crosstown rival Tosa West at 7 p.m. Saturday night at Whitman Field.

"This is obviously a big week for us," Dale said. "We need to bring our best against Tosa West. As everyone knows, it's a match nobody wants to lose."