Wildcats Drop Girls Soccer Opener to Nicolet

In a non-conference game that opened the girls’ soccer season, University School lost to Nicolet 4-0.

 USM’s senior goalkeeper Emily Wigdale made 21 saves for the Wildcats to keep her team in contention on a cold night at USM Friday.

USM head coach Jock Mutschler said, “We were looking for an early season match-up with a powerful, technical, tactically sound opponent.  I think we saw that in Nicolet this evening.  While the result wasn't particularly pleasing, it was quite useful in that it identified several areas of weakness and a couple of obvious strengths. We left spacious gaps and alleys in the middle and final third of the field.  Nicolet exploited the space, using it to generate dangerous opportunities. But our girls are intelligent, mature, and driven to succeed.  We must use this to our advantage.  Everything we do is calculated to prepare us for the state tournament playoffs.  To that end, this was an excellent experience in that at some point in the sectionals, we will be facing an opponent that is technically our superior. I look forward to the process of incremental improvement during the season.”  

The Knights scored three goals in the first half.  The first came at 15:42 when junior Haley Sullivan got a pass from senior Sarah Tavia in the middle of the USM 18-yard box and drove it past Wigdale.

Nicolet scored again at 28:09.  Wigdale made a save off corner kick cross, but freshman Greta Ricigiliano headed the rebound into the net.

Just over a minute later, Ricigiliano scored the third Nicolet goal when she took a pass from Sullivan and broke past the USM defenders, went in, and fired a low shot into the net at 29:32.

The Knights added one goal in the second half. From the left side, Ricigiliano crossed the ball to sophomore Sammi Castle in the middle of the box, and Castle shot the ball in at 49:21.

Nicolet is now 1-0; while USM is 0-1.  The Wildcats hope to even their record in a non-conference game against Kenosha St. Joseph at 4:30 p.m. Monday at USM.

Goal Scoring                                   

Team

Time

Goal Scorer

Assist

NIC

15:42

Haley Sullivan

Sara Tavia

NIC

28:09

Greta Ricigiliano

NIC

29:32

Ricigiliano

Sullivan

NIC

49:21

Sammi Castle

Ricigiliano

Saves

Team

Goalkeeper

Save Total

NIC

Michelle Margolies

 0

USM

Emily Wigdale

21