PULASKI, WI – The Pulaski girls soccer team continued its postseason success with a 3-1 victory over Ashwaubenon to capture its fifth consecutive regional championship.
For first-year head coach Tyler Perrault, the title is another sign that the Red Raiders are playing their best soccer at the right time.
“I think we’re getting hot at the right time,” Perrault said.
Pulaski’s regional championship run was highlighted by standout performances from several underclassmen, including sophomore winger Kara Barber. Perrault credited Barber’s speed and ability to create scoring opportunities as a key factor in the team’s offensive success.
“Kara’s got some really good speed on the outside,” Perrault said. “She’s a very dangerous player once she gets head-to-head with a defender. She’s been the majority of our dangerous opportunities this year. A lot of those chances have come from crosses from her on the outside, but she’s also not afraid to take it herself.”
The Red Raiders have relied heavily on a young core throughout the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Tatum Wentland earned the starting role early in the year and has remained between the posts throughout the playoff run.
“She’s been playing lights out all season,” Perrault said. “She got her opportunity early and has really made the most of it.”
Pulaski entered the postseason battle-tested after facing a challenging schedule that included several of the state’s top Division 2 programs. Earlier this season, the Red Raiders battled Cedarburg to a scoreless draw, a result Perrault believes helped prepare his team for the playoffs.
“Keeping it 0-0 and having a good competitive game with a team that’s been inside the top 10 in Division 2 all season was really big for us,” Perrault said.
The regional title continues a remarkable run of postseason success for the program. Since 2021, Pulaski has won five consecutive regional championships and advanced deep into the WIAA tournament on a yearly basis.
Last season, the Red Raiders reached the sectional final before falling to eventual Division 2 state champion Brookfield Central. Perrault said that experience has helped shape this year’s team.
“Our win over Ashwaubenon was our fifth straight regional finals win dating back to the 2021 season,” Perrault said. “A lot of these players understand what it takes to get through the postseason.”
While Pulaski remains focused on the current playoff run, Perrault is also optimistic about the future despite the upcoming departure of 10 seniors.
“We do have 10 seniors this year, and that’s going to be a lot of big shoes to fill,” Perrault said. “But we have some incoming eighth graders who have already shown a lot of potential and play at a high level. It’s more of a reload than a complete restart.”
That confidence is reinforced by a strong junior varsity program that finished the season with a 10-2-3 record.
“Our JV team was really good this year,” Perrault said. “A lot of those young players are going to have opportunities to help improve the varsity team next season.”
For now, however, the Red Raiders remain focused on extending their postseason run and taking another step toward a state tournament appearance.
“We changed our schedule this year to challenge ourselves against some of the best teams around,” Perrault said. “The goal was to prepare for these moments, and we’re hopeful we can keep advancing.”
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