West girls soccer open season with win and loss

The 2024 girls soccer season is off to an encouraging start for the Sun Prairie West program. The Wolves were able to kick things off within the friendly confines of Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium with a weekend quad. They hosted DeForest on Friday, April 5 and Watertown on Saturday, April 6.

Things got off to a good start against DeForest on Friday afternoon. The Norskies were a regional championship winning program the season prior, and Sun Prairie West held them to a 0-0 draw in the first half. Things snowballed quickly in the second half, though, as DeForest awakened with a flurry of goals to win 4-0.

The Norskies kept the ball in Sun Prairie West’s end for most of the game, outshooting the Wolves 18-1. West junior goalkeeper Sophia Vriesema did all she could, nabbing 14 saves in her 80 minutes in goal. The game was also an inspiring start for freshmen players in vital positions for West. Midfielders Alayna Voung, Greta Ghoca, and Ari Berg, as well as defenseman Sam Rice looked ready for the varsity level with their contributions.

The following day’s matchup with Watertown went the exact opposite direction for the Wolves. They played up to their potential and raced to a 3-0 victory, their first of the season. Vriesema was untouchable as she nabbed 12 saves in the complete game shutout.

West junior forward Mira Petri, an honorable mention all-conference selection from the season prior, made her presence known in the win. She scored two of the team’s goals. The first was unassisted, West’s first of the new season. The second was an absolute stunner. Off of a corner kick from junior midfielder Chloe Voung, Petri elevated for a header goal. Alayna Voung punctuated the victory with the first goal of her high school career, assisted by her cousin Chloe.

Sun Prairie West’s opening weekend leaves it with a 1-1-0 record. The Wolves will hope to roll that early momentum into a trio of non-conference matchups scheduled for week two. They’ll host Oconomowoc on Tuesday, April 9 at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium, welcome McFarland to Sun Prairie West High School on Thursday, April 11, and head to Germantown on Saturday, April 13.