Crusaders cruise into state final

Mark Hoffman
Catholic Memorial's Alden Bennett heads the ball against Madison Edgewood on Friday.
Published on: 10/30/2009

The state semifinals haven't been the problem for the Catholic Memorial boys soccer team.

The Crusaders defeated Madison Edgewood, 3-0, Friday afternoon at Uihlein Soccer Park and have now won three semifinals in the last three years by a combined score of 9-0.

The problem has been Green Bay Notre Dame in the championship game.

The Crusaders have lost the title to the Tritons the last two seasons, but they don't have to worry about them this time.

Memorial, the first Division 2 team to reach a state final three years in a row, will play Fox Valley Lutheran at noon Saturday. Notre Dame did not make it to state.

"It would've been nice to have played them and get revenge, but sometimes you don't get that chance," said Memorial senior forward Alden Bennett, who had two goals against Edgewood. "We just have to go out and be motivated like we were today and do what we've been doing all year."

Lately, what Memorial has been doing is dominating.

The Crusaders (19-4-2) have won their last six games by a total score of 19-0, and senior goalkeeper Tim Shore is among the reasons why. He now has 17 shutouts in 25 games.

"I can't say enough about the back line," Memorial coach John Bisswurm said. "Through the course of the year they really developed. Our whole team has improved at defending. Our goalkeeping has been solid.

"Our objective going into the year was to make sure we won the last game we played this year."

It didn't even take 3 minutes before Memorial was in position to do so.

Bennett scored on an assist by sophomore forward Aaron Horvat for a 1-0 lead 2 minutes 52 seconds into the game.

Horvat made it 2-0 at the 24:28 mark with a goal from about 12 yards past keeper Kevin Blair.

"(Nate) Craft played a great ball back over," Horvat said.

In the second half, Shore made his only save on a close shot by Alex Hanna.

Sixty-two seconds later, Bennett scored again on a 20-yard shot to the right corner.

Fox Valley Lutheran 4, Sparta 1: After Sparta goalkeeper Jordan Stanek scored on a long kick that bounced over the head of Lutheran goalkeeper Hans Houser in the first half, Lutheran responded with second-half goals from four players. Teffy Joyce's goal in the 46th minute gave his team a 2-1 lead.

Catholic Memorial 2 1 - 3
Madison Edgewood 0 0 - 0

 First half - 1, CM, Alden Bennett (Aaron Horvat), 2:52; 2, CM, Horvat, 24:28. Second half - 3, CM, Bennett, 54:30. Shots - CM 17; ME 4. Saves - CM, Tim Shore, 1; ME, Kevin Blair, 1. Records - CM 19-4-2; ME 14-9-1.

Fox Valley Lutheran 0 4 - 4
Sparta 1 0 - 1

 First half - 1, SPA, Jordan Stanek, 11:35. Second half - 2, FOX, Paul Stuebs (Ben Nommensen), 41:22; 3, FOX, Teffy Joyce (Travis Nushart), 45:26; 4, FOX, Matt Page (Trent Allison), 48:41; 5, Allison (Pang Chun), 67:38. Shots - FOX 20; SPA 6. Saves - FOX, Hans Houser, 1; SPA, Jordan Stanek, 5. Records - FOX 22-3-4; SPA 12-7.