10/29/2009 10:15:00 AM Spartan kickers' season ends with loss to Edgewood
#4 Ian Hughes heads one away from his goalie in the sectional game against Edgewood. McFarland lost 3-1.
Mike Klawitter
A year ago this month, the McFarland High School boys soccer team was celebrating a 2-0 upset win over Madison Edgewood in the regional finals of the WIAA Division 2 tournament at Breese Stevens Field.
Obviously, the Crusaders didn't forget that game as they took on the Spartans Oct. 23 at muddy, rain soaked Warner Park in this year's sectional semi-finals.
McFarland notched the first goal of the game, but Edgewood responded with three unanswered goals in a 3-1 win to eliminate the Spartans from the post-season.
Edgewood, the fourth seed in the eight team Pewaukee sectional, was coming off an upset win over number one seed Mount Horeb, while number two seed McFarland was victorious in opening round games against Jefferson and Monroe.
The Spartans, who did not play Edgewood during the regular season, looked like they might take command of the match in the 18th minute when forward Jonathan Dollar fired a shot past Crusader goalie Kevin Blair for a 1-0 lead.
Yet, Edgewood scored the equalizer with just two minutes remaining in the half as Dane Donnelly knocked a shot past Spartan goaltender Mikey Juszczyk. The goal gave the Crusaders some momentum entering the second half.
In the 56th minute, Edgewood scored what would be the game winner off the foot of Steve Gilbert. Eleven minutes later, Jake Owen tacked on an insurance goal for the Crusaders.
It was the fourth time in five years McFarland had been beaten in the sectional semi-finals. The Spartans reached the sectional semi-final game in 2007 but lost to Waukesha Catholic Memorial.
McFarland ends its season with a record of 17-7-1. It was the first time the Spartans had surrendered three goals in a game since a 3-1 loss against Stoughton Sept. 4 in the Lodi Quad.
Before the Edgewood defeat, the Spartans were 9-2-1 in their previous twelve games, gave up only nine goals, and registered five shutouts.
WIAA Division 2 Sectional Semi-Final (Warner Park, Madison)
