Going the extra mile

Tosa East wins on penalty kicks

WAUWATOSA - The overflow crowd at Whitman Field on Saturday night paid $5 to watch Pewaukee and Wauwatosa East in a WIAA Division 2 girls soccer sectional final.

Make no mistake, this was the best bargain in town.

The Red Raiders and Pirates engaged in a memorable battle that was knotted, 3-3, after 90 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtimes. Finally, the Red Raiders prevailed on penalty kicks, 10-9, when junior midfielder Emma Martin beat Pewaukee goalie Lauren Schill to the low left corner, ending the 2 hour, 40 minute affair.

“There was so much pressure because it meant going to state,” Martin said. “And I’ve never been in a game like that before.”

Wauwatosa East (174-3) reached the state tournament for the first time since 2003. Pewaukee (16-3-2) lost on penalty kicks in a sectional final for the third time in four years and is still looking for its first trip to state in school history.

“You live to play games like this,” said East junior forward Liz Bueckers, an IUPUI recruit.

After a scoreless first half, the Red Raiders took a one-goal lead on three occasions in the second half. But each time, Pewaukee had an answer — including a goal from sophomore striker Elizabeth Reyes in the 88th minute that tied the game, 3-3, and forced overtime.

“That just showed the character and resiliency of our girls,” Pewaukee coach Sean Sullivan said.

East dominated the first half, but the brilliance of Schill in goal helped keep the game scoreless. The Red Raiders finally broke through in the 48th minute when Bueckers was tackled in the box by Pewaukee’s Lexi Blaser. East junior midfielder Mariana Ibanez-Baldor took the penalty kick and beat Schill to the low right corner for a 1-0 East lead.

Blaser made amends just four minutes later, though, when she converted a free kick from 25 yards out.

But in the 56th minute, East junior forward Crosbie Kowalski found herself alone 10 yards in front of the Pewaukee goal after a feed from Bueckers. Kowalksi sent a blast to the upper left corner that beat Schill and gave the Red Raiders a 2-1 lead.

The Pirates refused to go quietly, though. Pewaukee senior forward and UWM recruit MacKenzie Schill got free from 10 yards out and converted to the lower right corner to tie the game, 2-2.

The Red Raiders reclaimed the lead in the 85th minute when Bueckers sent a perfect through ball to Elyse Reagan. The junior forward then beat Lauren Schill to the lower right corner to give East a 3-2 lead.

But Pewaukee simply wouldn’t quit and Reyes forced overtime.

“We were all exhausted,” Bueckers said. “It was just a great game.”