The shot totals were lopsided. It didn’t matter.
Piling up 15 shots, compared to four for Kimberly, the Waunakee girls’ soccer team suffered a season-ending 1-0 loss to the Papermakers on Friday at the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament at Milwaukee’s Uihlein Socceer Park.
“It’s really hard,” said Charli Smith, expressing her disappointment after the Warriors’ defeat. “These people on this team are amazing. It’s sad that it has to end.”
Kimberly turned the tables on Waunakee, as the Papermakers lost 1-0 to Waunakee back in April. The Warriors finish the 2024 campaign with a 17-3-3 overall record. Muskego (17-1-4) ended up winning the Division 1 title with a 2-1 win over Kimberly (22-3-1) on Saturday. Waunakee and Muskego tied 1-1 earlier this season.
Of Waunakee’s 15 shots, eight were on goal. All four of the Papermakers’ shots were on goal.
The game’s lone goal came in the 10th minute, when Senah Hanes scored off an assist from Emily McCarthy.
“Both games with them were tough,” said Smith, the Badger Large Conference’s Player of the Year. “It was a good goal. It’s just really sad because we had way more shots, but they were able to save our shots. They stopped a lot of our opportunities. It was a good match-up.”
Taking the early lead was key to Kimberly’s strategy.
“They had a lot of players playing back,” said Waunakee head coach Andrew Moll, the Badger Large’s Coach of the Year. “They had a good defensive game plan … we wanted to score first. That really changed the game, because then they could hunker down. It was hard to get one past them when they were bunkered down. We didn’t get much help with the fouls.”
Waunakee was whistled for 14 fouls, while Kimberly was called for six.
The Warriors had their chances. In the 29th minute, Sophie Schnaubelt blasted a long shot that Kimberly keeper Lauren Heckert got a hand on to direct it over the crossbar. Another Waunakee shot two minutes later sailed wide, and in the 36th minute, Brooke Nelson’s drive from distance glanced off the crossbar. Heckert finished with eight saves.
Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Warriors came out on fire after intermission, seeking the equalizer. In the 41st minute, Kimberly was called for handball just outside of the box. The resulting free kick soared over the Papermaker net.
Time kept ticking away, as the Warriors’ frustrations mounted. With nine minutes remaining, a dangerous ball was sent into the box, and a Waunakee attacker appeared to get a knee on it, but it popped up high and over the net again. From there, Kimberly kept Waunakee at bay.
Smith reflected on the season afterward.
“It was amazing,” said Smith. “It was so much fun with these girls.”
Moll loved working with this team.
“It’s a great group of girls — hard working,” said Moll. “It didn’t end the way we expected. It’s hard to have a year end like that.”
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