By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The 2015 season for the Elkhorn Area High School boys soccer team ended in Elks-like fashion. The issue, though, is Fort Atkinson forced the Elks a dose of their own medicine.
Under BZ Kayser, in his seventh season as head coach, the Elks’ reputation is that of a team that plays hard and physical, is rarely out of a match and routinely steals wins from seemingly superior opponents.
Fort Atkinson pulled a similar trick last season and ended the Elks’ season earlier than anyone in purple and yellow wanted.
Fort Atkinson beat Elkhorn 1-0 Oct. 24 in a WIAA Division 2 regional final match at Elkhorn. Elkhorn entered the match seeded No. 1 in the regional bracket. Fort entered as the fifth seed.
The Blackhawks (4-15-1) ended Elkhorn’s five-year streak of WIAA regional titles with the victory. The Elks lost on a fluky, wind-aided goal that found the daylight between the upper crossbar and the outstretched fingertips of the Elkhorn goalkeeper. Fort scored on a set piece.
“It’s a tough way to go out,” Kayser said. “We were superior to the other team, but that’s soccer for you. You can outplay a team and still lose.”
Elkhorn’s goals this season are relatively unchanged from recent years.
“To compete for conference, even though Delavan will be the number one team in the state in Division 3, to win our regional, and to put ourselves in position to try to win a sectional,” Kayser said of what the Elks want from 2016.
Elkhorn is participating in a multi-team scrimmage Saturday at the SCORE Complex in Franksville. The Elks open their 2016 season Aug. 23 at home with a non-conference match against Whitewater.
There are 12 returning letterwinners at Kayser’s disposal this season, so the Elks return a fair amount of talent.
Sid Babu and Leo Loredo are back to provide scoring punch. Ian Nowell earned First Team All-SLC honors on defense, and will be joined in the back by sophomore Caden Reece.
Ben Burrows returns in the midfield, as does Kevin Romero. Sophomore Danny Stillings is also expected to contribute in the middle.
Teyatzin Aranda will play in goal. Returning letterwinners Luke Umnus, Vince Umnus, Bryant Romero, Adam Reigle, Philip Meersman and Kyle Schoeneberg will also contribute.
Elkhorn went 7-2 in SLC play and finished second in the regular season conference standings last season. The Elks lost 3-0 Oct. 13 at Delavan to the Comets in the title match of the Southern Lakes Conference tournament. The Elks entered as four-time defending conference tournament champions.
Delavan-Darien is the defending Division 3 state champion, and must be considered the favorite in the SLC. Elkhorn will be in the mix for the top spot, and will feel heat from Badger and Union Grove.
