With just one more Badger West game remaining before locking up a berth in the league championship game, the Oregon boys soccer team continued its quest to repeat as conference champions.
Oregon (13-2-2, 6-0 Badger West), ranked No. 2 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association state poll, faced two tests last week. Oregon played Hudson, ranked No. 8 in Division 1, to a scoreless tie on Saturday, Oct. 1, and clipped 10th-ranked Eau Claire Memorial 1-0 on Friday, Sept. 29.
“We make the effort to travel as far as we do to play Hudson and Eau Claire Memorial because they are quality D1 schools for different reasons,” Oregon coach Chris Mitchell said. “We feel strongly that we were the better team in both matches and came home with increased confidence.”
Oregon extended its unbeaten streak to 11 straight games. The Panthers are 10-0-1 since a 2-1 loss to Madison West on Sept. 10.
The Panthers are looking to win a fourth consecutive conference championship. During the alternate fall season in the spring of 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no league champion was crowned. Oregon remained unbeaten in the Badger West with an 11-0 victory over Monroe on Thursday, Sept. 29, at Monroe High School. The Panthers also picked up a 3-0 Badger Conference crossover win over Milton on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Huntoon Field in Oregon.
Oregon is scheduled to host the Badger West championship game on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Huntoon Field.
Mitchell said the Panthers have been more organized defensively despite some changes to the team’s formation during the unbeaten streak.
Oregon 0, Hudson 0
Oregon played Hudson to a tie on Oct. 1, at Eau Claire Memorial High School.
The Panthers outshot Hudson 6-3. Oregon senior goalie Jack Kreckman had three saves.
Hudson had two times more corner kicks (six) than the Panthers.
“Jack is gaining confidence in his abilities and timing in terms of coming off his line to own the box more, which is huge for us,” Mitchell said. “Our back line is staying more organized and figuring things out on their own better during the run of play.”
Oregon 1, Eau Claire Memorial 0
Senior Casey Schoenecker scored the game-winning goal on a rebound in the 71st minute.
Schoenecker scored the game winner on a rebound off a shot from sophomore Kellen Diercks. The Panthers had a slight edge in shots on goal, 7-6.
Kreckman had six saves.
Oregon 11, Monroe 0
Senior Myles Tomlinson netted a hat trick to power the Panthers to a shutout over Monroe in 60 minutes on Sept. 29, at Monroe High School.
Tomlinson scored his first goal on an assist by junior Cameron Eck at 2:24. About five minutes later, senior Elias Hui scored on an assist by Schoenecker. Tomlinson scored his second goal on a pass from junior Niege Dolbeau at 7:45 to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead. About seven minutes later, Tomlinson scored his third goal. Oregon led 6-0 at the half.
The Panthers scored five goals in the second half. Oregon outshot Monroe 15-1. The Panthers got second-half goals from senior Nick Schaefer, senior Mason Diercks, Federico Mariani Cardenas, Henry Kreckman and senior Daniel Compton.
Oregon 3, Milton 0
Senior Noah Malcook scored two goals to lead the Panthers to a shutout over the Red Hawks on Sept. 27, at Huntoon Field.
Malcook scored his first goal at 14:22. The Panthers outshot the Red Hawks 11-2 and scored two goals in the second half.
Dolbeau scored in the 63rd minute on an assist by Malcook to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Malcook scored his second goal at 68:33.
Kreckman had two saves at goalie for the Panthers.
“Noah is going to break out sooner or later with goal scoring, so it was good to see him tally two goals in the Milton game,” Mitchell said. “Honestly, we don’t care who scores if we are playing our style and being dynamic. Fortunately we have many guys that can put the ball in the net on any night.”
