Girls soccer 5 stars Madison/WiscNews area April 25

Vogler had been shifted from midfield to a more attacking role minutes before as the host Cardinals tried to press for a goal against Wisconsin Rapids in a nonconference girls soccer match.

Vogler’s goal, off an assist from freshman Kate Dwyer, gave Sun Prairie East a 1-0 victory last week at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field.

“I was calling for it,” Vogler said. “(Dwyer) passed it to me and I one-touched it with my left foot hoping it would go in, and it went in.”

It meant Cardinals coach Matt Cleveland had bragging rights for a year over his older brother, Wisconsin Rapids coach Nate Cleveland, and possession of the 2024 Hubcap trophy, which goes to the game’s winner.

“I was excited,” Matt Cleveland said about Vogler’s goal. “We were instantly relieved because I think we did the work to win it and it’s good to be rewarded.”

It was an actual hubcap that he proudly showed to his team afterward and said he’d bring to his family’s Thanksgiving meal. He said the tradition began 21 years ago, with the hubcap holding meaning that something looking like junk can be a trophy worth battling over.

“This is like a family story and they fight for me,” Cleveland said about his players.

Teams don’t play overtimes or shootouts during the regular season, but Cleveland said the game officials had been advised that a tie would have been broken with penalty kicks for the trophy’s sake. 

It was Vogler’s fifth goal of the season. She also scored in a 3-0 Big Eight Conference victory over host Janesville Craig earlier in the week.

“I’ve learned you have to work for your spot on the field,” she said. “It doesn’t just come to you.”

Waunakee senior Charli Smith is a standout defender for the Warriors.

But Smith, who’s committed to UW-Green Bay, was called on for an offensive boost against defending WIAA Division 1 state champion Muskego last week.

Host Muskego entered the game ranked No. 2 team in Division 1 in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association poll and features Kentucky commit Anna Sikorski, last year’s state player of the year.

Smith moved to forward and scored the equalizer for then-No. 4 Waunakee in the 65^th minute. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

That followed Waunakee’s 2-0 victory over Sauk Prairie.

“Charli Smith has had a great season thus far and had an outstanding game Friday,” Waunakee coach Andy Moll said. “Against Muskego, her defensive presence was immediate.  She played a huge part in keeping arguably the top player (Sikorski) in the state scoreless. Not only that, but once we got down a goal, we moved Charli to forward to help generate some offensive chances.

“Incredibly, Charli scored the tying goal within a minute of moving to a forward position. We are very fortunate to have a well-balanced attack and a solid team defense, which enables us to move Charli around at times, depending on where she can help us the most. Her versatility and coachability is a true gift.”

Smith was a first-team all-conference player in the Badger East last year (Waunakee is in the Badger Large this season).

Senior midfielder McKayla Paukner, a four-year varsity player, continues to be an offensive leader for Sauk Prairie this season.

“McKayla has made tremendous gains in her play as well as her leadership to get to the point she is currently at,” Sauk Prairie coach Drew Kornish said. “As a team captain, McKayla exemplifies what it means to play for the Sauk Prairie girls soccer program. We are very fortunate to have her leading our program this season.”

Sauk Prairie has displayed its offensive capabilities in victories over Lodi (10-1), Stoughton (5-2) and Madison Memorial (1-0).

Paukner, a Winona State (Minnesota) commit, scored five goals and totaled three assists through the Eagles’ first five games. She was a second-team all-conference choice in the Badger West last year (Sauk Prairie is in the Badger Small this season).

Sophomore goalkeeper Reese McCabe is the last line of defense for undefeated Oregon, which recorded four shutouts in its first five games. 

That included a 2-0 victory over Middleton in Oregon last week. The Panthers were ranked second in Division 2 in last week’s coaches’ poll.

Oregon’s offensive prowess and ability to control possession can take the pressure off the Panthers’ defense, but McCabe and the team’s defenders form a solid back end that stymies most opponents.

“She’s solid,” Oregon coach Bobby Nichols said about McCabe. “We trust our defensive line and we trust Reese, as well.”

McCabe comes up with the key stops when the opponent threatens.

“Every part contributes to us winning,” Oregon junior forward Addison Werth said. “It’s not just the forwards, it’s all of us, Reese included. … For her being a sophomore, she’s amazing. We really need her on the field. I’m very thankful we have her as our keeper.”

McCabe was a first-team all-conference choice last year in the Badger West (Oregon is in the Badger Large this season) and an honorable-mention selection on the coaches’ All-State team.

Middleton senior Sophie Kasel, a South Dakota commit, is the anchor of the Cardinals’ defense — lined up at center back for coach Mary Duffy’s team.

The Cardinals’ defense was off to a good start, outscoring opponents 6-2 in its first three games (De Pere 2-1, Neenah 3-0 and Hudson 1-1), before falling to Oregon last week.

Kasel also is an offensive weapon taking free kicks, including getting the assists on Middleton’s two goals against De Pere.

“Sophie Kasel sees the field really well and the game really well,” said Duffy, adding Middleton potentially will look to move her forward more during matches to aid the attack.

Duffy said Kasel is a team captain and acts as a captain on the field in directing her teammates where to go.

Congratulations to Oregon’s Addison Werth, who received 73.2% of the vote in last week’s poll.

Vote for this week’s poll below.