Three-match sweep improves team to 6-2 in conference
By Dan Truttschel
Sports Correspondent
Things are going just fine these days for the Big Foot-Williams Bay boys soccer.
And that success, including wins in all three matches this past week, has the Chiefs in position to bring home the Rock Valley Conference title.
The three-match sweep improved the Chiefs to 10-3-2 and 6-0-2 in the RVC. Whitewater is just behind Big Foot at 5-1-2 in conference play.
“We are playing very well,” Big Foot coach Keith Blakeman said. “Beating Evansville last Thursday was a major milestone for this season.
“We continued to play good team defense, making it difficult for our opponents to create, play possession-based soccer in the midfield (that allowed) us to build opportunities to score, and finished our chances in front the goal.”
Christian Munoz led the way Tuesday night, as he recorded the hat trick in the Chiefs’ 4-2 win over visiting Jefferson.
Munoz scored at the 4- and 33-minute marks, and then assisted Octavio Hernandez at the 59-minute mark to give Big Foot a 3-0 lead.
“Christian has been playing very well, but his ability to finish was something special (Tuesday) night,” Blakeman said. “He played with real confidence, which is vital for strikers, and was not afraid to try and shoot.
“When things come together like that for a player, it is a real joy to watch.”
Jefferson pulled to within one goal at 3-2 before Munoz iced the win with a goal off an assist by Ludovic Resendiz at the 1:10 mark of the second half.
Blakeman was pleased to see his team withstand Jefferson’s late charge.
“I think we lost concentration a little bit during the second half,” he said. “Jefferson worked hard all game to frustrate our attack and then counter-attack quickly.
“They were able to execute it twice and get back into the game. Christian kept making intelligent runs and ‘Ludo’ was able to get him the ball where he could run at and behind the defense.”
Big Foot goalie Nico Tovar had three saves.
The Chiefs had little trouble at McFarland Monday, as they rolled to a 6-1 victory.
Six different players scored for Big Foot, as Adrian Hernandez, Munoz, Diego Lavariega, Cory Shea, Octavio Hernandez and Foster Isham each had one. Resendiz had two assists, while Heath Dillenbeck and Munoz added one apiece.
Oscar Sanchez recorded eight saves for the Chiefs.
Munoz and Adrian Hernandez each scored a goal, while Octavio Hernandez had an assist, in a 2-1 Big Foot win Sept. 18 over visiting Evansville.
Tovar finished with four saves.
Badger Invite up next
Big Foot is back in action this weekend when it competes at the Badger Invitational Friday and Saturday. The Chiefs face the 11-4-0 Badgers Friday at 4:30 p.m., followed by matches Saturday against the Middleton varsity reserve squad and Grant (Ill.).
The Chiefs return to RVC play Monday, Sept. 29, when they host Edgerton.
“We need to continue to play the way we have been playing,” Blakeman said. “Given the competition in the Rock Valley, we need to remain confident and focused in every game and make sure we take maximum points every time.
“Our primary goal remains winning the conference, and all our decisions will be related to that. We will also do our best to cause some trouble at the Badger Tournament over the weekend.”
