3-0 win over Whitewater gives school first championship since 1995
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
It had been nearly 20 years since the Big Foot-Williams Bay boys soccer team could claim itself an undisputed conference champion.
Earlier this week, that all came to an end.
Big Foot put the finishing touches on a perfect run through the RVC Monday night with a 3-0 win over Whitewater. The Chiefs closed the conference season at 10-0-2, two games ahead of Whitewater.
The championship is the school’s first since 1995.
“We are all very excited,” Big Foot coach Keith Blakeman said. “It has been a long tm for this program. The players are happy to finally find out what all the fuss is about.
“It’s a long season, and throughout, the players have found ways to win key games, even when we did not play to our full potential.”
The conference title is especially satisfying for the team’s seniors, Blakeman said
“I know our seniors really see is as the culmination of all the effort they put into the program over four years,” he said. “I’m excited we were able to deliver it to them this time around.
“The younger players see this as the first step forward and understand what it takes to win the title. It was great for me personally to see the real joy among the players after the game.”
Williams Bay’s Cory Shea broke a scoreless tie with a goal off an assist from Ludovic Resendiz at the 43-minute mark.
Shea’s goal got things going offensively for the Chiefs, Blakeman said.
“(His) goal from the outside after both teams had several chances that did not result in goals really changed the match for us,” Blakeman said. “Our confidence grew after that, and we really started to believe we would win.”
From there, the Chiefs cruised with a pair of second-half goals to seal the victory.
Juan Mercado scored at the 50-minute mark, followed by another by Christian Munoz 18 minutes later of an assist from Octavio Hernandez.
Big Foot goalie Nico Tovar had 10 saves in the win, as he put together yet another stellar effort, Blakeman said.
“Nico has been huge for us all season,” he said. “He salvaged the victory in the Badger tournament by saving a penalty kick and the follow-up shot.
“He kept us in the game (Monday) against the best striker in the conference, who had a few breakaway chances in the first half. He’s done everything we’ve asked, and to win, you need a keeper to make one to two great saves in a tough game.”
Big Foot opened the week Oct. 2 with an easy 6-0 win at East Troy.
Logan Grunow led the offensive attack with two goals and an assist, followed by Munoz, Resendiz, Diego Lavariega and Nelson Tovar with a goal apiece.
Collecting assists were Grunow, Munoz and Heath Dillenbeck. Nico Tovar had three saves for the Chiefs.
Big Foot closed its regular season Thursday night with a home match against Division 1 foe Kenosha Bradford.
Post-season pairings were scheduled to be released by Thursday.
Blakeman said his team will focus on the Bradford match and then turn its attention to a hopeful deep run through the playoffs.
“(After Bradford), we will get right back to work trying to improve our play and get ready for the playoff run,” he said. “The guys know that we’re not done yet. We’re playing with real confidence lately, and I think we can carry that into the post-season.”
