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Redbirds lose heartbreaker to Golden Raiders

By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent


DE PERE – Sometimes all it takes in soccer is one kick to win or lose a game.

That was the case in De Pere’s 1-0 Fox River Classic Conference loss to Sheboygan North May 14 at Cloud Field in De Pere.

North scored a late second-half goal to defeat the Redbirds.

The Golden Raiders outshot De Pere 17-7 for the game.

“We’re right there against the top echelon of teams but haven’t been able to take that next step forward in getting a victory,” said De Pere head coach Andy Steger. “We had some chances in the first half to notch a goal but couldn’t get one past their goaltender.”

The opening look for the Redbirds came four minutes in after Taylor Witteck sent a cross to Hannah Welch 10 yards out.

Welch hit the left post, and the ball squirted out to the center of the field, but no De Pere player was there for the rebound.

“We knew if we could get a goal early against a high-caliber club, it’s a big deal,” Steger said. “We have been working on that set piece for a while and almost pulled it off.”

In the 24th minute, North had a similar fate happen to them with a ball hitting the post, and like the Redbirds, the ball shot back out into play.

With six minutes remaining until halftime, Redbirds midfielder Sophie Hubbard was about to get a clean 20-foot shot away, but Golden Raiders defender Alivia Hundt came out of nowhere to break up the play.

The game remained scoreless as intermission hit.

Sheboygan North’s relentless pressure on goal remained to start the second half as Redbirds goalie Dalaney Steger continually had to punch a ball away or make a big save.

Maggie Mueller then struck in the 59th minute for the Golden Raiders.

She took a pass in the center part of the field and sent a left-footed, curving ball that found the right part of the net to give North a 1-0 lead.

With 10 minutes left in the game, the Redbirds had one last look when they were awarded a direct kick.

Witteck sent in a high-arching kick, but nobody was home for De Pere.

The Golden Raiders went into defensive mode to prevail by the one-goal margin.

“We had a very good game plan coming into this contest,” said Steger. “We didn’t want to give them outside looks because they are very dangerous with those shots. We had a defensive lap, they made us pay and that’s all it took for them to get the win. However, I’m very proud of the effort especially, on the defensive side of the ball. We have an important week of soccer upcoming to prepare us for the postseason.”

Box score

Sheboygan North: 0, 1—1
De Pere: 0, 0—0

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