By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
Headed into Oct. 7’s WIAA Division 3 state semifinal, Delavan-Darien boys soccer coach Mike Marse knew his team had a challenge in front of it – no matter what had happened in the regular season.
While the Comets had tied St. Augustine Prep 3-3 on Sept. 17, Marse called the Lions the most talented team they had seen.
The Lions made Marse’s words manifest in the state semifinals, scoring early on a penalty kick and then blowing the game wide open midway through the second half with two scores within a minute.
St. Augustine added another goal late in the contest and went on to win 4-1. The Lions followed up Saturday by shutting out Sheboygan Falls, 2-0, for the school’s first-ever state – in the seven years it has been in existence.
Delavan-Darien finished the season 12-11-4 overall, with the loss ending a four-game winning streak that covered the playoffs and saw the Comets beat three ranked teams to qualify for state.
Marse said after the game that St. Augustine was just too good on that day, telling his team the better team won.
“I told them that, tonight, St. Augustine was the better team. They were,” Marse explained. “And they are probably a better team.
“But I think we got a little afraid and a little worried about the speed and the quickness.”
Delavan-Darien’s lone goal came from Ariel Huerta, who scored on a penalty kick with just about 20 minutes left in the contest. By then, though, the Comets were trailing by three goals.
“I felt pretty confident taking it,” Huerta said.
After Adran Saldana scored on his penalty kick 21 minutes in for St. Augustine, the game was played largely in the midfield, as the Lions played keep away with the ball.
“They were just a step faster than us,” Marse said. “That’s where we need to try and keep possession … so we can do what they were doing to us.”
That limited the opportunities the Comets had. Huerta and sophomore Steven Smith had chances, but could not convert.
“I felt like we played really scared the first 30 minutes of the first half,” said Smith, who committed the foul that led to the opening score. “That penalty was my fault. I take full responsibility for that penalty.”
However, it was more than just a foul. At the 55-minute mark, Juan Gomez punched in a goal off a faulty rebound by the Comets.
Seemingly flustered, Delavan-Darien couldn’t stop St. Augustine from going straight to the goal again, this time with Angel Gomez scoring for the Lions. It was his 56th goal of the season, and he added another goal and an assist in the championship game.
For the full story and many more photos from the game, please see the print edition of the Delavan Enterpise.
