Elks come up short against Mukwonago

By Chris Bennett

Sports Correspondent

Something happened to the Elkhorn Area High Soccer Team last week that usually doesn’t.

It lost.

In two home games last week Elkhorn defeated Southern Lakes Conference foe Lake Geneva Badger Sept. 6 and lost to Mukwonago 1-0 in a non-conference matchup Sept. 8.

The loss against Mukwonago is just the Elks fifth in the last two seasons. The Elks finished 21-3-1 last season and lost previously this season on Aug. 15, 1-0 to Menomonee Falls.

The Elks (6-1-1, 3-0 SLC) are now at the point as a program where a loss is news.

“They’re a very good team,” Elks coach BZ Kayser said of Mukwonago. “They’re (ranked) honorable mention for Division 1. The two teams that have beaten us are ranked in Division 1.”

Kayser said Mukwonago possessed the ball more than the Elks. The Indians scored the game’s lone goal shortly before halftime.

Kayser said one of Mukwonago’s defenders kicked the ball down the sideline to a midfielder, who cross-passed the ball to a forward within the 18-yard box and scored.

Kayser also said the Elks had a chance to score on a breakaway goal with about 20 minutes left in regulation, but the attempt on goal sailed wide to the left.

Against Badger, the Elks needed double overtime to secure the win.

The Elks’ Jon Stopple scored with 90 seconds left in the second overtime off a corner kick from Jeroham Duran for the victory.

Overtime in high school soccer, typically if not in a tournament, is played in the golden goal format. The first team to score a goal in overtime wins. If Stopple doesn’t score the Elks and Badger play to a tie.

Brandon Riese also scored for the Elks against Badger.

The Elks played Burlington Tuesday and today play Waterford, both SLC games.

“Obviously our conference games are huge for us,” Kayser said. “If we can get those two games, that would be huge for us.”

Elkhorn is the defending SLC champion.

This weekend Elkhorn plays in a tournament at Slinger and will face Waukesha Catholic Memorial and Neenhah. Neenah beat Elkhorn 3-0 last year on Oct. 27 in the quarterfinals of the WIAA Division 1 state soccer tournament at Milwaukee’s Uihlein Park.