Soccer Chiefs whip Golden Eagles 9-2
Wisconsin Dells had little trouble handling Mauston for the second time this season on Thursday night. Here Ryan Tischer (#2) moves the ball against a Mauston forward in the Chiefs' 9-2 win at home. The locals will be back in action with a unique indoor game played against Reedsburg at the Wisconsin Dells Center starting at 7 p.m.
By Jim den Hollander
The Wisconsin Dells High School varsity soccer coed soccer team saw life on the other side Thursday night. Playing host to the Mauston Golden Eagles, the same Chiefs that have dropped several lopsided decisions this season were the ones filling the net in a 9-2 win over the visiting Golden Eagles. While satisfying, the game only went a short way in appeasing coach Thales Blaso who continues to be frustrated at the defensive lapses that have cost his team this season. Blaso lamented a 4-2 loss at the hands of Dodgeville, a team that has always had the Dells' number, but at least this season, appears beatable. Blaso said of the earlier contest in Dodgeville, "It's the same thing (as often happens). The defense, something's wrong. We make silly mistakes. Blaso said the host Dodgers scored two "silly" goals in the first half, but also lacked solid defensive play in the contest allowing the Chiefs to knot the game at 2-2 before the end of the opening half. Two late goals ultimately cost the Chiefs a game they could have won," said the coach. This one is tough in particular as the Chiefs will play in the same Division 2 Regional pool as Dodgeville and is likely close to a top half draw and a first round home game which would be a first for the team. Against the visiting Golden Eagles, it was the Chiefs pouring in the goals, scoring twice in the game's first 10 minutes and showing no signs of let up on their way to a comfortable 5-1 halftime cushion. Wally Ziemianczyk led the charge with a pair for the locals in the period with singles coming from Michael Holzem, Matt Lagoda and Nathan Palmer. The second half was nearly identical for both teams, all four Dells shooter's recording more, although Ziemanczyk notched just one to wrap up a hat trick and Zwick scored both for the Eagles. Despite the work Blaso knows he has yet to do, in particular in defensive play, with his team, Thursday's win in a combined varsity/junior varsity effort was worth enjoying. "It is good," said the coach. I have a lot of faith in those kids. It's long term work (ahead)," said the coach, but "I am pretty satisfied." As for the defensive lapses in some of the other contests, that's an issue that Blaso admits to being frustrated with. "What really bugs me is no matter how much I work with them, every game something happens. We let the other team score." The Chiefs boosted its overall record to 5-10 with the win, all but one of those wins coming against teams in its Regional pool. The Chiefs face Reedsburg in a rescheduled game at the Wisconsin Dells Center Monday at 7 p.m. then play in the Badger Challenge Thursday. Upcoming games against both Poynette and Lodi will have bearing on the team's playoff seed.