Despite a strong start on Sept. 29, the WolfPack soccer team lost its fourth game in a row, losing 3-0 to Anoka-Ramsey, the eighth-ranked team in the country.
From the first kick of the game, Anoka-Ramsey controlled the ball, applying a great deal of pressure to the WolfPack. The WolfPack responded with pressure of its own and managed to hold Anoka-Ramsey scorelss in the first half despite being outshot 23-1.
WolfPack coach Corey Sims employed an effective attack zone which forced Anoka-Ramsey to take shots from further away. Sims was pleased with the first half defense but wished the WolfPack could have kept the defensive pressure going.
“It’s something we would like to keep up for the whole game,” Sims said.
Everything fell apart for the WolfPack in the second half after Marcelo Torrealba of Anoka-Ramsey scored two goals in under 10 minutes essentially sealing the game for Anoka-Ramsey. The quick scores upset the WolfPack’s standout freshman Elliot Piper.
“We just got frustrated after we got scored on and we just shut down after that,” Piper said. “It’s something we’ve got to work on.”
The constant pressure from Anoka-Ramsey smothered any attempts at a comeback the WolfPack may have had.
But the strong performance against a nationally-ranked opponent may have provided a spark for the WolfPack.
In its next match, Madison College ended its losing streak by beat Harper College, 2-1, on the road on Oct.2. After Harper took a lead early in the second half, Marco Meneses scored to tie the game at 1-1. Meneses then scored another goal in overtime to give Madison a 2-1 victory over the Hawks.
The WolfPack then lost a hard-fought road game to Triton College, 2-1, on Oct. 4. Meneses scored the only goal for Madison College in the second half.
On Oct. 6, the WolfPack had a huge scoring outburst against Lakeland College. After falling behind, 3-1, in the first half, the WolfPack scored six goals in the second half. Meneses scored three of the goals, while Yaw Appiah, Devan Hilleshiem and Michael Digman each added one.
Madison will host its final conference game of the season against Joliet on Oct. 9 before hosting Carthage College JV on Oct. 11.