By Kevin Cunningham
Sports Correspondent
Whitewater’s boys soccer team began its season on Aug. 25 and have played three games to this point. After a year in which the team went 11-5-4 overall and making the WIAA Division 3 Regional just a season ago, the Whippets have had a tougher time duplicating success this season.
The Whippets lost its two leading goal-scorers from last season. Head coach Richard Gunter said the team is still trying to find the right chemistry between the midfielders and attackers.
In the team’s opening game, Elkhorn was the opponent, and once the game was over, a lone goal by the Elks was scored. The Elks got the Whippets’ goalkeeper screened, and capitalized on the loose ball scramble in the box.
“Generally, we were pleased with the overall effort,” Gunter said. “The game was costly in that we had several injuries which impacted us in the Evansville game two days later.
“We were missing three starters, two [being] defensive. (…) We had several questionable calls early in the second half which took our players out of the game mentally. Evansville made us pay for that lack of focus. Our offense was actually clicking OK but we had two goals taken away.”
In the second game, against Evansville, the offensive drought continued for the young Whippets. The first half went scoreless, but in the second, a flurry of goals took place.
In 15 minutes, Evansville capitalized on opportunities by scoring four goals. During the final 20 minutes, Whitewater clawed itself back into the game, eventually losing 4-2.
The Whippets then had a chance against McFarland to get its first win, but as Gunter knew, McFarland would be a challenge.
“McFarland was young last year [but] should be very strong this year, contending with Evansville and Big Foot for the conference title” Gunter said. “I anticipate a very tough game.”
On Sept. 1, the Whippets traveled to play McFarland and could not stop one player in particular, Schuyler Tambling. Tambling nearly scored two hat trick’s worth of goals in the game, eventually putting five in the back of the net.
Zach Blair recorded three assists for McFarland and pushed its overall record to 2-1-1, while the Whippets now sit at 0-3. Whitewater scored three goals in the 6-3 defeat.
To this point, the Whippets have scored more goals in each game as the early season has progressed, but have allowed more goals in each game as well.
Up next for the Whippets is East Troy, who currently leads the Rock North Conference with an overall record of 4-0-1 (2-0 in conference). The Whippets will have a week to prepare, as the game is set for a 4:45 p.m. start on Sept. 8 at East Troy High School.
Editor’s note: Additional coverage from Tuesday’s game against McFarland will appear in next week’s issue.
