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Mount Horeb senior Rowan Severson, who is a midfielder for the girls soccer team, answers five questions.
A corner kick for the McFarland girls soccer team is a dangerous weapon.
“It’s a game-changer for you,” McFarland coach T.J. DiPrizio said.
Spartans senior Elise Freeman, taking the corner kick, demonstrated that in the opening minutes against Reedsburg on Friday night in McFarland.
She delivered a corner kick into the box and senior Ava Dean headed it home for a 1-0 lead after only 3 minutes, 27 seconds. It was part of a connection the two have established through years playing high school and club soccer together.
“Those headers wouldn’t happen if the corner kicks weren’t in the same spot every time,” Dean said about Freeman’s accuracy.
Freeman also scored two goals for McFarland, ranked third this week in Division 3 — the first on a penalty kick at 52:59.
Freeman
“After taking a couple (penalty kicks) last year and then this year, it has helped build up my confidence taking them now,” Freeman said.
The second goal was a shot from in front at 55:59. She said she turned a defender who had been on her back, then fired her shot.
Freeman plans to study exercise science at UW-La Crosse in hopes of becoming a physical therapist and she might play club soccer.
“You can see the confidence she has in soccer,” said Dean, who scored two goals against Reedsburg. “She is so talented. It’s insane.”
Ava Ewert
Waupun junior Ava Ewert scored three goals and had an assist in a 6-1 victory over Columbus on May 16.
Ewert scored in the 31st, 54th and 61st minutes and added an assist on a goal by Liv Fitch at the 57:02 mark.
“Ava has been a productive part-time starter with more starts coming in the second half of the season,” Waupun coach Joshua Fitch said. “I’ve moved her around between forward and midfield due to her foot talent, but finding her a permanent spot is important as playoffs approach.”
Fitch said one of Ewert’s goals against Columbus “can only be described as a professional level goal.” She received a high, floating cross at the edge of the penalty area and drove it into the net.
“As Ava arrived, she shot an absolute stunner on a full volley,” Fitch said. “I’ve been coaching high school girls for 16 years and have never seen a shot driven so well on full volley from that distance.”
Fitch is eager to see what’s in store for Ewert.
“Ava is a quiet, hard-working student and player,” he said. “She has the versatility and skill set to play any field position, though she is most effective in the attack. I believe her best soccer still lies ahead and I look forward to having one more year with her in 2025.”
Depending on the opposition’s defensive approach, Waunakee senior midfielder Alyssa Thomas either looks to pass or seeks to score.
Thomas
Thomas, who’s committed to Wright State women’s soccer, assisted on the game’s first two goals — by seniors Charli Smith and Hadley Frost — in Waunakee’s 4-0 victory over Verona in 85-degree heat Saturday.
“She has a really good vision of the field,” said Warriors coach Andy Moll, whose team was ranked third in Division 1. “She’s great at finding little openings.”
Thomas, a second-team coaches’ All-State choice last year, scored three goals in 12 minutes playing time in a 10-0 victory over Fort Atkinson last week and had two goals in a 2-0 win over Germantown on Friday.
“Sometimes, when I’m being doubled, we move me outside so I can be isolated one-on-one to serve balls in,” she said. “A lot of times, Sophie (Schnaubelt) and I are combining. (Friday), she had two assists to me, so it switches on and off. With Charli on the wing, with her speed getting around people to cross it in, that has been huge for us to finish.”
Verona junior outside midfielder Eily Duffy scored the lone goal in the Wildcats’ 1-0 victory over Madison Memorial and had four assists in an 8-0 victory over Janesville Parker last week.
Duffy
Duffy, off an assist from sophomore Ella McGinnis, broke free on a run and scored at the 64:28 mark against Memorial.
“McGinnis had a great ball,” Duffy said. “That was a beauty ball. I kept composure, I saw where the keeper was and from there I tried to find the spot that was open. As a team, we held our line that day. How we got that free play was through great, hard work.”
Freshman Noelle Rauwolf and Duffy have been among the top point collectors for the Wildcats.
“She’s been playing great soccer,” Verona coach Jen Faulkner said about Duffy. “She sees the field well, is a good combination player. She’s a great communicator. She’s a leader on our team.”
Monona Grove senior Belle Dehner opened the scoring with a blast from 25 yards Saturday, propelling the Silver Eagles to a 6-1 victory over Milton.
Dehner
“The ball rolled to me,” she said. “I fake-turned to go to the right and I turned to my left and I got around the ball with my right foot. And it whizzed in.”
Dehner also scored in Monona Grove’s 4-1 loss to Madison Edgewood on May 16, driving a shot from 25 to 30 yards.
“I can shoot from distance,” she said. “That’s my strong suit.”
Dehner, who has committed to Quincy University (Illinois) women’s soccer and plans to study biochemistry and Spanish, is a versatile player. She plays outside back in club but said she has played center midfield, center back, outside midfield and outside forward for Monona Grove.
“I like it a lot,” she said about playing different positions. “I like to help in various places on the field. On the defensive aspect, I like being at my usual position (outside back), but I also like to score goals.”
Congratulations to DeForest’s Mya Hanson, who received the most votes and was the winner of last week’s poll.
Vote for this week’s winner below.
Which of the stars had the most impressive week?
Oregon’s Elise Boyd (22) slids to the ball against Cedarburg’s Peyton Wetzel (3) during the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Aubree Caya, looking to the right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal.
Oregon’s Addison Werth had a goal and two assists in Thursday’s 5-0 victory over Cedarburg in a WIAA Division 2 state semifinal at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Oregon’s Rose Anderson (7) fights for the ball against Cedarburg’s Joie Carpenter (16) during the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Delaney Hoelker (14) runs for the ball against Cedarburg’s Jacqueline Stiever (10) during the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half against Cedarburg during the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Elise Boyd (22) fights for the ball against Cedarburg’s Courtney Van Ermen (12) in the first half of the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Katelyn Studebaker (21) celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half of the Division 2 semifinals against Cedarburg at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Maggie Langenohl (28) runs the ball against Cedarburg’s Peyton Wetzel (3) in the first half of the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Delaney Hoelker (14) collides into Cedarburg’s Peyton Wetzel (3) in the second half of the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Katelyn Studebaker (21) fights for the ball against Cedarburg’s Izzy Mayer (25) in the second half of the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Maggie Langenohl (28) chases down the ball against Cedarburg in the second half of the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Katherine Pankratz (15) passes the ball against Cedarburg during the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Addison Werth (2) fights for the ball against Cedarburg in the first half of the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Addison Werth (2) runs the ball against Cedarburg in the first half of the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Katelyn Studebaker (21) celebrates with Addison Werth (2) and Elise Boyd (22) after Studebaker scored a goal during the Division 2 semifinals against Cedarburg at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Oregon’s Ava Butsic (4) runs the ball against Cedarburg in the first half of the Division 2 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, June 15, 2023. SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
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Mount Horeb senior Rowan Severson, who is a midfielder for the girls soccer team, answers five questions.
From her favorite food to her favorite athlete, meet Belle Dehner.
Sun Prairie East and Middleton’s rivalry knows no bounds on the baseball diamond. Neither does the communities’ continued combined support for…
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