PULASKI, WI- The Pulaski Boys Soccer Team is not feeling any added pressure as they get set for their second ever State Soccer appearance.
The Red Raiders defeated Tomah 1-0 in the Sectional Final, the level they lost last year, and that fueled them all season.
Junior Ben Uelman said they used that loss to set their focus for this year. “As soon as we lost, we knew we had a lot to work on, but we knew that we had a lot of guys back and that we would be back.”
Uelman scored the only goal of the game for the Red Raiders. “It was a defensive game and I was in the right spot at the right time, and the ball came to me and I put it in.”
Coach Jeff Schneider said the team has risen to their challenges this year. “We felt like we kind of under achieved in that game last year, but our season lives on.” He said the experience will be new for the kids, but he feels they will be able to rise to another challenge. “It seems like on a yearly basis, each group has that belief that they could be in the final four left standing and we were happy to check that box this year.”
Schneider says the experience from playing in a big game in last year’s Sectional Final was a difference maker on Saturday.
“Sometimes it only takes one goal, but at the end of the day, I tell the guys we just need to score one more goal then they do.”
The Red Raider’s State Semifinal opponent, top seeded Whitefish Bay was in the State finals last year and lost to Oregon 3-1.
“With experience comes pressure and sometime that effects your play,” Schneider. “I don’t know if they are feeling that, but I know that we are not.”
Pulaski has done it all in the post season. They put up two shutouts, won a game on a shootout and scored multiple goals in a game to get here. Whitefish Bay has only given up one goal in three games in the postseason,
“I think every team at State is feeling like they have nothing to lose, but make no mistake, we are going down their to win,” Schneider said.
Jack Ryan is a Senior captain. “You always have to take advantage of the opportunities that you have,” he said. “I am excited to be part of this, but I think it will be the toughest game of the year.”
Schneider said he could not ask for a better group to go after that challenge.
“I think our speed and athleticism is something that sets us apart, but we have athletes that can run and hustle and put the work in and I hope that it is one of the ingredients that you need to get to that final game.”
THE DIVISION 2 FIELD: Last year’s runner-up Whitefish Bay is the top seed. The Blue Dukes are making their 16th trip to the State Tournament overall. They have won seven championships, including three in a row from 2015-2017. They also won consecutive crowns in 1982-83 when the tournament featured one class. They added a Division 1 title in 1994 and another Division 2 championship in 1995. The Blue Dukes also advanced to the finals in 2003 and finished runner-up. They cruised past Nicolet 4-0 in the final of the sectional hosted by the Blue Dukes to continue their pursuit of their eighth championship. They finished runner-up in the North Shore Conference this season. Defending champion and second-seeded Oregon returns to State for the second year in a row and for the 11th time overall. The Panthers have now won four championships. The first came in 1998 and then again in 2013 and 2018. They also advanced to the title game in 2017 and finished runner-up. This year, they rolled over Monona Grove 6-0 in the final of the Sauk Prairie Sectional for the chance to repeat as champions. The Panthers are the champions in the West Division of the Badger Conference this season. Third-seeded Waukesha West will appear in its fourth State Tournament and its first since 2017. The Wolverines’ first two appearances came in Division 1 in 2002 and 2010, which resulted in losses in the quarterfinals. Their appearance in Division 2 in 2017 resulted in a tie in the semifinals, and they failed to advance from the subsequent shootout. The Wolverines qualify this year by virtue of their 2-1 win over Wauwatosa East in the sectional final hosted by Waukesha West. The Wolverines finished second in the Classic Eight Conference standings this season. Pulaski, the #4 seed, returns to the State for just the second time. The Red Raiders’ only other appearance came in 2014 when they fell in the semifinals. This season, they edged Tomah 1-0 in the sectional final played at Pulaski to advance to the State semifinals. The Red Raiders finished fourth in the Fox River Classic standings this fall.
Division 2 Schedule
Division 2
Thursday, Nov. 3
#1 Whitefish Bay (18-1-4) vs. #4 Pulaski (18-4-2) – 11 a.m.
#2 Oregon (21-2-2) vs. #3 Waukesha West (12-4-3) – 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 5
Championship Game – 11 a.m.
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