By KIMBERLY PILON
On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the Bucs played UW Whitewater, and struggled to find the back of the net in their 2-0 loss. The Warhawks achieved their first goal midway through the first half, and both teams continued to battle for control into the second.
Mamucha Munthali’26, Eziah Hernandez’29, and Rafael Cervantes Jr’25 all had shots on net throughout the game, and Hernandez was blocked on multiple attempts by the Warhawk’s goalkeeper. In the 73rd minute, the Warhawks found the back of the net again, solidifying their win. Out of the Warhawks’ 19 shots, the Buccaneers’ defense was able to hold them to two goals.
“I think we had an opportunity to test ourselves against a college that is playing at the level of some of our top conference opposition,” Coach Patrick Sanchez said after the game. “We learned a lot in specific and individual moments, which is what this part of the season is about.” In terms of the game the next day, he emphasized rotating through players, while also maintaining the level of play on the field.
The following day, they went up against UW Stout, and held their own to a 2-1 win. Coach Sanchez said before the game, “We need to use our abilities to run off the ball to create free kicks and chances in transition. We also need to learn from our recent tie against CUW, and if we get a lead, be mature and focused enough to hold onto it.” He also emphasized the need to avoid pressure in the defensive third, as well as keeping the tempo high for the full ninety minutes.
Cervantes was the first to finish, putting the ball in the back of the net with a header, assisted by Evan Miranda’27. Six minutes later, Hernandez scored his second goal of the season, giving the Bucs a healthy lead. Sanchez’s rotations proved useful for the Bucs, with certain players making key offensive and defensive moves.
The Bucs maintained control of the game, with their possession around 45%. As the game continued, Buccaneer defenses were tiring, and with less than a minute left, the Blue Devils managed to slip one in the back of the net. However, it was not enough to turn the tide, and Beloit held onto the win.
The Buccaneers play back to back again next weekend, starting off conference on Saturday, and then returning home to play one of their last non-conference games on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Featured image: Kayla Wolff
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