By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School boys soccer team focused on possession against Waukesha West and beat the Wolverines 2-0 Sept. 14 in a non-conference match at Waukesha West High School.
The Elks beat Badger 5-1 Sept. 12 in a Southern Lakes Conference match at Lake Geneva.
Elks coach BZ Kayser said the Elks should have won by more than two goals against West (4-3).
“We had a lot of possession in that game,” Kayser said. “We should have won by more. We let a lot of opportunities go. We should have scored six or eight goals in that game.”
Kayser said he thought the Elks lack the ability to make a positive decision in the final third of the field against West. Kayser said the Elks passing and combinations needed to be better.
“As of right now, we’re just a good team,” Kayser said. “We’ve got things we can clean up and there are things that are very fixable.
“We need to accomplish those things when we play good teams and get to the final third.”
The Elks led 1-0 at halftime on the strength of a goal from Luke Schoeneberg. Ray Beilman added a goal in the second half.
Against Badger (2-4, 0-1 SLC) the Elks led 2-1 at halftime after goals from Luis Roman and Alec Birbaum. Birbaum added another goal in the second half. Beilman and Devon Davey also scored in the second half.
“We possessed the ball really well,” Kayser said. “That’s the first time in 10 years we’ve played Badger that we out-possessed them from beginning to end.”
Kayser is in his 10th season as coach of the Elks. He praised his son, Jordan, who works as an assistant coach with the Elks, for emphasizing possession of the ball.
“We’ve kind of turned into a possession team more than a kick and run team,” Kayser said. “That’s the bottom line of where we are, and I’m happy.”
Elkhorn (5-1, 1-0 SLC) played a SLC match Tuesday at home against Burlington, and play a SLC match today at Wilmot. The Elks play Delavan-Darien Sept. 24 in a SLC match at home.
See more Elkhorn sports in the Independent.
