By Tori Wittenbrock
Sports Reporter
Green Bay- De Pere, Pulaski and Notre Dame Acadeemy have secured their positions at the top of the standings in the Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC) this season. The girls soccer teams will head into Regionals on May 30, and June 1. Depending on performance, advancement to Sectionals will be on June 8 and 10, with the State tournament being held in Madison, June 15-17.
De Pere
The De Pere girls soccer team has had an exceptional season so far. They currently hold the top position in the conference, with a record of 7-0-1. The team has done an impressive job defensively and offensively, as proven by their well-rounded goal differential. The Redbirds currently have 31 goals for and 1 against, for an impressive 30+ differential, giving them 15 points in the bracket.
De Pere has faced a lot of decent competition in the highly competitive FRCC, as well as some difficult preseason games. Yet, their record so far is a testament to their camaraderie and perseverance the past few months.
Despite their substantial lead, their season has not come without hardship.
“On Thursday night, May 18, our senior captain, Alli Wettstein, tore her ACL. That is definitely the toughest part of the season for us. We have played a tough schedule, with many games and have come out stronger because of it. We are really looking forward to the playoffs and the opportunity that lies in front of us,” said Head Coach Andy Steger of his team’s effort this year.
Pulaski
Currently holding third place in the FRCC, the Pulaski Red Raiders girls soccer team has fought hard this year to earn their place at the top of the bracket. With another impressive record of 5-1-2, only succumbing once to Sheboygan North at the beginning of the season — a team only second in the standings to the Redbirds — Pulaski is in a good position heading into the playoffs. The girls have earned a 20+ goal differential, which speaks to their aggressive attack this season — 25 goals for — and the strength and composure of their defense — just 5 goals against. Pulaski sits comfortably going into the next few weeks with 12 points.
Head Coach Kelly Logue said that strategy and perseverance have been a large part of what has gotten them through this season.
“After finishing a team book study of the story, “Super Power” by Kate Leavell, our girls chose their individual super power to contribute to the success of our season. Starting the spring with two returning starters sidelined due to ACL injuries and two more who found themselves in walking boots, the team knew they needed to stick together to accomplish the goals they set for themselves,” said Logue.
“After several ties, and two well-played losses, we were able to claim victory against an extremely tough Division I conference team, ending in a tie against another Division I ranked team. That was the push we needed to move forward together! The girls really bought into believing that we are the strongest together, always. Each day, they commit themselves to becoming a better individual to contribute to the success of our team.”
Notre Dame Academy
Notre Dame Academy (NDA) girls soccer, with a similar record of 5-2-1, has fought hard this season to maintain their spot in fourth place in the FRCC. With 11 points on the season so far, the team holds strong with 27 goals for, and 10 against, leaving them with a 17+ point differential.
“It’s been a long but rewarding year so far. When we set our schedule, we always book good competition so we are battle-tested for the state run. Not only is our conference very tough, we also got invited to the Tournament of Champions this year in Iowa and went 1-1-1, but we play larger schools all year so that we see different styles of play to prepare us for state. These games get us ready. Iron sharpens iron,” said Nick Browne, head coach of NDA girls soccer.
Browne said the team entered the season well-prepared for the fast-paced and physical nature of the FRCC, but still have a lot to prove going forward.
“The girls have had lots of ups and downs this year. We talk about building every training session, and learning something from every match. The girls have done a great job at staying focused and keeping their eyes on the prize. We want to be at Uihlein Field in mid-June,” said Browne.