By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School boys soccer team beat a physical, experienced Wilmot squad 2-1 Sept. 18 in a Southern Lakes Conference match at home.
“That was the most physical game we’ve played all year,” Elks coach BZ Kayser said. “We’re going to see them in the regional. It’s going to be tough to play with those guys again.”
Elkhorn’s Cole Dellamaria scored on a corner kick and Matt Nelson scored on a penalty kick for the Elks’ goals.
Kayser said Wilmot (7-4-3, 2-3 SLC) started 10 seniors.
The victory against Wilmot helped eased the sting of the Elks’ 2-1 loss to Badger Sept. 16 in a SLC match at home.
Badger is undefeated (5-0) in SLC competition, and is tied for first with Delavan-Darien for the top spot in the SLC after defeating the Elks.
“They had a little more possession, but we had opportunities to get back in the game,’ Elks coach BZ Kayser said.
The teams went into halftime tied 1-1. Edger Mendoza scored for Badger in the first half and Nelson scored for Elkhorn. Both teams scored off set pieces.
Payton Aranda scored in the second half with 52 minutes elapsed to give Badger the lead for good.
Kayser said he was told the referees missed a Lake Geneva handball inside the 18-yard-box with 90 seconds left in regulation. The Elks would have received a penalty kick if the penalty gets called.
“They possessed the ball more than us,” Kayser said. “We had an opportunity to tie it up there at the end.”
The Elks finished with a tie and a loss Sept. 20 in the Slinger Invitational. Elkhorn and DePere tied 1-1 and the Elks lost to Wauwatosa West 3-1.
Kayser said the Elks trailed DePere 2-0 at halftime.
“We came back and tied them and had some opportunities to win it,” Kayser said.
Griffin Sweeney and Kollin Baerwald scored for Elkhorn against DePere. Tyler Daehn scored the Elks’ goal against Wauwatosa West.
Kayser said he rested injured players in the Slinger Tournament and used the two games as an opportunity to clear the bench and also experiment with formations.
“When we go to Slinger, it’s tough to play our style of soccer two games in a row,” Kayser said. “We like the Slinger Tournament because it’s a good time to get away.”
The Elks played in SLC games Sept. 23 at Burlington and Sept. 25 at Waterford. Elkhorn plays in the SLC Tournament beginning Sept. 30 at a time and location yet-to-be-determined.
