By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
MADISON - In the team's first state tournament appearance since 1995, Stevens Point Area Senior High girls soccer coach Sharon Peterson said her team needed to be aggressive and come out and take control.
But SPASH's opponent, Mequon Homestead, took command of the game early and ended the Panthers' season in the WIAA quarterfinal round last Thursday, 2-0, at Mansfield Stadium.
"We probably didn't come out with the confidence we normally do," Peterson said. "We let Homestead be more aggressive. We were frustrated by their aggression and it affected us.
"We got goofed up right away. We weren't necessarily marking people the way we were supposed to have."
Homestead got on the scoreboard just over 13 minutes into the game when Katie Jensen scored off a pass from Brenda Bzdak. The Highlanders added another goal with 13:41 remaining in the first half when Danielle Stern found the back of the net. Morgan Johnson got the assist, weaving through several SPASH defenders before delivering a pass to Stern.
SPASH (15-7-1) had a pair of opportunities to dent into Homestead's lead in the second half. Megan Oswall's shot sailed over the cross bar with just under 20 minutes left in the second half. Homestead goalie was out of position on the play.
The Panthers other chance came on a direct free kick with about 7-1/2 minutes to go. But Tremlett sent Abbey Peterson's kick over the crossbar and SPASH did not threaten again.
As the time ticked away on the scoreboard, Peterson felt bad for the team, especially the seniors. "You just ache for them because they knew," she said of seniors Nikki Falkowski, Abby Hebert, Hayley Lazarski, Amber Lenze, Mandi Michelkamp and Ann Nguyen.
"Right now they're not happy with where they are, having the season end, but yesterday they thought it was the best place to be," Peterson said of the team.
"It was a great season. We had a great sendoff (Thursday) at school. That will all come back. It will probably be better (Thursday night)."