Preble Hornets take second at State

MILWAUKEE — The No. 4-seeded Green Bay Preble Hornets (17-3-3) took second place to No. 3-seeded Middleton (21-3-1) in the WIAA State Final with a final score of 2-0 after a hard fought season. 

The championship game kicked off with both teams working together in the attack for a chance on goal. 

Senior midfielder Yosef Navarro had a breakaway in the box that was stopped by Middleton’s strong defensive line within the first thirty seconds of the match to give the Hornets the first shot of the game. 

Just a minute later, however, a header into the far post upper-v by Middleton set the tone for the first half forcing the Hornets to climb from behind. 

“We could have scored a goal at 37 second in and then they came back and we gave one up. It’s always hard to overcome something like that, but we were in the game the entire time,” said Green Bay Preble Head Coach Christopher Becker. 

Six minutes into the match, Navarro brought a spark on offense with a shot just wide of the net. 

Pas the 15 minute mark, the Hornets found themselves in the attack with several free kicks and by settling into a good rhythm on offense. 

Yet, the Hornets seemed unable to find the back of the net despite landing several shots on frame. 

In the 22nd minute of the match, Middleton ripped a shot off the crossbar that was then followed up by a shot into the near post, keeping the Hornets on their toes. 

By the 33rd minute of the match, the intensity bred several chippy plays in the midfield. 

A yellow card was awarded to Tyce Bergstrom in the 33rd minute for a foul in the midfield. 

Despite their efforts, the score held at 1-0 going into the second half. 

In the 43rd minute, Middleton again took the field with an offensive strike ringing the crossbar in the 43rd minute. 

Middleton continued to possess the ball in an attempt to keep the Hornets on their heels throughout the second half. 

The nail in the coffin came in the 62nd minute of play with a bar-down goal just between goalkeeper Landin Gauthier’s hands and the crossbar. 

Gauthier finished the night with 3 saves. 

The Hornets were outshot 15 to 5 with Middleton’s 8 corner kicks to their lone attempt. 

“I thought they did a really good job sticking to the game plan,” said Becker. 

“I thought they handled (Middleton’s) speed and they did a really good job of containing them.”