Click below to go to 2014 FVA schedule & standings & All Conference selections
www.fvasports.net/page/show/1251327-boys-soccer
Varsity
JV “A” Team
JV “B” Team
2014 FVA All Conference
Connor Reams 12 Forward 2nd Team
Matt Schneider 11 Midfielder 2nd Team
Leonardo Almaraz 11 Midfielder Honorable Mention
Eric Fritsch 12 Goalie Honorable Mention
2014 Game Results
Fondy ties with Hortonville
Fond du Lac 1, Hortonville 1: The Cardinals tied the Polar Bears in a Fox Valley Association game played at Hortonville.
After Fond du Lac fell behind early in the second half, Leo Almaraz scored on an assist from Eli Voss in the 72nd minute to knot it up. Eric Fritsch had 20 saves for the Cardinals.
“It was nice that we stayed in the game and stay composed and were able to get the late goal,” Fond du Lac coach Alex O’Connor said. “I thought our decision-making was outstanding tonight.”
Fond du Lac defeats Appleton East
Fond du Lac 3, Appleton East 1
At Appleton, the Fond du Lac boys soccer team picked up a Fox Valley Association win over the Patriots.
Leo Almaraz, Matt Schneider and Connor Reams scored for the Cardinals. Schneider also added an assist as did Riley Odekirk. Eric Fritsch had 15 saves in goal.
“It was really, really great tonight,” Fond du Lac coach Alex O’Connor said. “Our defense and midfield were very patient. … We kept it very simple. Overall, a great team win.”
Fond du Lac…2 1 — 3
Appleton East…1 0 — 1
First half: FDL—Leo Almaraz (Matt Schneider), 7:00. FDL — Matt Schneider (Riley Odekirk), 24:00.
Second half: FDL—Connor Reams, 82:00.
Saves: FDL (Eric Fritsch) 15.
Fond du Lac goes 0-2 at Racine Horlick
Racine Horlick Invitational: The Fond du Lac boys soccer team went 0-2 on Saturday, falling to The Prairie School 1-0 and Racine Horlick 2-1.
Connor Reams scored the Cardinals’ lone goal of the tournament in the 23rd minute against Horlick. Eric Fritsch had 18 saves in goal for Fond du Lac.
Late goal spoils O’Connor’s debut as head coach
It was an unusual sight for Fond du Lac fans and players Thursday night as Greg Winkler wasn’t there coaching on the sidelines. After Winkler announced his retirement from the Fond du Lac School District this past weekend to pursue another coaching and teaching job in Florida, former assistant coach Alex O’Connor stepped in for his first game as head coach. While it didn’t turn out as he hoped, it still was a memorable moment.
A late Appleton North goal gave the Lightning a 3-2 win over Fondy in a Fox Valley Association game played at the Fondy Soccer Complex. “You can’t get much more of a fun game than that,” said O’Connor, who replaces Winkler after 18 years at the helm of the boys’ program. “Five goals isn’t very common in soccer and the fact that they stuck with it and put on a show, that’s enough for me. It’s tough to go down late in the game but they gave their hearts out and it was a great first game as a head coach.”
Tied 2-2 late in the game, Appleton North’s Osman Bajraktarevic placed a nice ball high enough for Jacob Teunas to head the ball into the right side of the goal, giving the Lightning the late lead. It was a ‘roller coaster’ of a game for the Cardinals (4-5-2, 2-2-1 FVA), who found themselves up a quick goal after five minutes, but then found themselves down just a few minutes into the second half. Leo Almaraz found Connor Reams at the 5 minute, 23 second mark to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. After North’s goalie came up to play the ball, Reams took advantage of an error and knocked it in an empty goal. “We were in the right spot in the right time, we had a few clean up goals,” O’Connor said. “Connor’s goal was fantastic, he didn’t give up on the play. We had an opportunity that looked like it was going to be shut down but he realized he had an opportunity, stuck with it, and went around a defender to finish the play.” Same was said for Eli Voss’ goal in the 53rd minute, which tied the game up at 2-2. Voss had a nice shot from the right side of the field that reached the upper right corner of the goal. “Both goals were similar where they were both determined, stayed on the ball even though it looked like the ball was lost,” O’Connor added. “They kept their heads down and kept on working.” After Almaraz nearly missed a free kick in the 50th minute — after his shot sailed high and left — the Lightning took a 2-1 lead after Nick Smidt found Brendan Daines, who found a hole in the right side of the net, beating a diving Eric Fritsch attempt.
But the Cardinals never gave up, with Voss tying the game with a goal two minutes later. “They came back, drew even, but the roller coaster they went through to stay in the game, and stay positive, to keep playing consistent,” O’Connor said, “It is a big credit to our players for staying in the game.” “For them to not lose their composure, it’s really easy in a situation like that to play different soccer where you freak out and panic. These guys didn’t do that.” Appleton North’s (7-2-1, 4-0-1) quickness on the ball made it tough for the Cardinals to defend all night. “They are a quick team and they are very good on the ball,” O’Connor said. “If you try to pressure the player when he has the ball he’s going to get beat and it’s hard to cut off the passing lanes. We tried to stop the play going forward, not so much who has the ball, but where they were looking to go with it.” While it was a loss for O’Connor in his debut, he’s excited moving forward. O’Connor, a former player under Winkler, said he has learned so much from him these past few years and is excited to take over a Cardinal program that Winkler left him in good hands with. “Greg was a phenomenal mentor. The guy’s record speaks for itself and he has done plenty of things,” O’Connor said. “Playing with him as a player and keeping him as a close friend and watching him on the sidelines as an assistant the last three years, I’ve learned a lot from him. “I will use as much as I can from what I learned from him and will put my twist on things too. It will be a great thing moving forward.”
Appleton North…1 2 — 3
Fond du Lac…1 1 — 2
First half: FDL — Connor Reams (Leo Almaraz), 5:23. AN — David Tarr (Chris Hansen), 29:34.
Second half: AN — Brandon Daines (Nick Smidt), 51:02. FDL — Eli Voss (Reams), 53:19. AN — Jacob Teunas (Osman Bajraktarevic), 79:17.
Saves: Fond du Lac (Eric Fritsch) 7.
Fondy soccer sends Winkler off with win
The Fond du Lac boys soccer team delivered on a very emotional night. In coach Greg Winkler’s last game as the head coach, the Cardinals started out fast and picked up a 3-1 win over Kaukauna in home in front of a huge crowd. “It was an emotional night, we tried to keep them (emotions) away from us and the guys came out on fire,” Winkler said. “It was the biggest crowd we have had in a long time so we wanted people to see our product.” Connor Reams scored the first two goals for Fondy and Brady Edler scored the final goal. Eric Fritsch had seven saves for Fondy while Robert Cadorette had one for Fondy.
Kaukauna…0 1— 1
Fond du Lac…2 1— 3
First half:FDL — Connor Reams (Leo Almarez), 4:53. FDL — Reams (Alex Amaro), 29:06.
Second half:KAU — 51:00. FDL — Brady Edler (Matt Schneider), 68:58.
Saves: KAU 10, FDL (Eric Fritsch) 7, (Robert Cadorette) 1.
Soccer Shorts: Writing to you for the last time
It all started in 1999. I approached the Action Advertiser about writing a weekly soccer column and it ran in the Action for a number of years before being shifted to The Reporter. Now here it is 15 years later and it is time to close the books on Soccer Shorts — the Fond du Lac edition.
Vikki and I have a great opportunity to retire from Wisconsin and move to our favorite destination Florida. Those of you that know us know, we have been playing to go to Florida at some point, while we thought it would be a year yet, things happen and we are on our way. When you decide to retire and move away from what is considered your home, many emotions run through your head. I am sure many of you have had dreams of relocating to a warmer climate, many of you talk about moving to a different place and starting a new chapter in your life — yet how many take that plunge? We set a goal to get to Florida and we did all the things necessary to make that goal a reality. Now that day is upon us. I often speak to different groups and one of the things I have them reflect on is what do you do between your dash. The dash is your life, in our case it is the time we were in Fond du Lac 1985 (dash) 2014. What have we been able to do between our dash? 1985 to 1989 I was a member of the City of Fond du Lac Police Department and during that time I coached some high school football and track. From 1991 to 2014 I was a teacher with the Fond du Lac School District, coaching middle school football, wrestling, and track at Woodworth when they re-opened.
I became a member of the Fond du Lac Soccer Association Board of Directors in 1993 and became their president in 1995. I have been involved in the youth organization, the building of the one of the best complexes in the state, building a premier high school field, and growing the membership to a high of 2,100 kids in 2001. I took over the Cardinal soccer boys program in 1998 and the Girls in 2006. There are way too many people to thank and memories to share in this short little soccer editorial. I am most thankful for the many lives I have had the opportunity to touch. As a coach and club administrator I am sure there are people that didn’t always agree with decisions that were made. I think people did realize that I always tried to do things that were in the best interest of kids. I hope that I have inspired others to make decisions in the same manner. We have a great community and I am glad that my four boys were able to grow up in Fond du Lac and take advantage of the many opportunities offered to them at Fondy High.
I want to thank the community for the opportunities I was able to take advantage of hopefully my family and I did some good things during our dash here. For those young soccer players that have attended Greg Winkler camps — I will be back this summer and there will be a camp!
THANK YOU and “Keep on Kick’in.”
Fondy drops FVA opener to Oshkosh West
Fond du Lac goalkeeper Eric Fritsch thought he had just made a save, until he looked down and the ball was in the net. Only three minutes into the game, Oshkosh West’s Brandon Stevens fired a shot which Fritsch blocked, but once the ball reflected off his hands, the ball had so much backspin that it got away from him and into the net. That goal was all the Wildcats needed as Fond du Lac boys soccer team suffered a 1-0 loss in a Fox Valley Association match played in Fond du Lac. “It was a well played match, an even match,” Fondy head coach Greg Winkler said. “It should have been a 0-0 match. He (Eric Fritsch) had it, but it bounced off. There must have been a little rut there or something that put some backspin on that ball and all of a sudden it was in the net. It’s unfortunate but that’s how soccer goes sometimes.” Although the goal was a bad break for the Cardinals, they still needed to score if they wanted to at least tie. The Cardinals didn’t necessarily have trouble moving the ball, but they didn’t create enough scoring opportunities as Fondy didn’t have many shots on goal. “I thought the first half we played really well, but it didn’t seem like there was a lot of life or communication,” Winkler said. “A lot of times they had six guys on defense and they would just kick the long ball up. We were in a position to sit back and defend all night and we couldn’t create enough chances.”
Fondy did play solid defense all night despite giving up that goal in the third minute. Fritsch also had a good night in front of the goal as he finished the day with nine saves. “I think defensively we are working pretty good,” Winkler said. “We have the right group of guys back there and we just have to create some more stuff on the other end.” Stevens scored Oshkosh West’s goal on an assist from Jesus Heredia, who had made a nice pass from the far right side of the field, hitting Stevens right in the middle of the field. Stevens didn’t take long to fire a shot, which didn’t get up in the air, resulting in easy contact for Fritsch. But Fristch took his eyes off and the ball went in the net.
Fondy moves to 2-2 on the young season, but drops to 0-1 in the FVA. The loss Tuesday night doesn’t give Winkler a scare because he knows that his team has played some good competition early, which included a 2-1 win over Division 3’s second-ranked team Xavier. “We have had four games against quality opponents,” Winkler said. “I’m not upset about being 2-2, this is one that we could have gotten or at least tied. But we are coming together good. Just a few things to clean up and I’m happy with the way we are progressing.” Oshkosh West’s goalkeeper Blake Hartman finished with five saves.
Oshkosh West…1 0— 1
Fond du Lac…0 0— 0
First half:OW — Brandon Stevens (Jesus Heredia), 3:15.
Second half: None.
Saves: OW (Blake Hartman) 5, FDL (Eric Fritsch) 9.
Coach Winkler to step down
Fond du Lac boys soccer coach Greg Winkler will step down from his position following Tuesday’s home game against Kaukauna.
Winkler is retiring from the school district and will be taking an opportunity in Florida. Winkler was also the Fond du Lac girls soccer coach in the spring.
Alex O’Connor will take over the Cardinals for the rest of the season, beginning with the team’s game on Sept. 11.
Fond du Lac ties Manitowoc at home invite
Fond du Lac 1, Manitowoc 1: The Fond du Lac boys soccer team tied Manitowoc in the opener of its home invitational on Friday. After Manitowoc scored early in the second half, Fond du Lac’s Connor Reams scored with under two minutes left in the game to tie it up. Eric Fritsch had five saves in goal for the Cardinals.
Manitowoc…0 1 — 1
Fond du Lac…0 1 — 1
Second half: Fond du Lac — Connor Reams, 78:38.
Fond du Lac 78:38 — Connor Ream Fritsch 5 saves
Saves: Fond du Lac (Eric Fritsch) 5.
Fondy goes 1-1 at home invite
Fond du Lac Invitational: On the second day of its home invitational, the Fond du Lac boys soccer team went 1-1 — defeating St. Lawrence and falling to Marshfield. The day started off on a sour note as the Cardinals lost 1-0 to Marshfield, giving up a free-kick goal with four minutes to play. Eric Fritsch had four saves for Fond du Lac. However, the Cards turned it around in the second game of day, besting St. Lawrence 2-1. Connor Reams and Leo Almaraz scored for Fond du Lac.
Fondy, Neenah play to tie in shortened game
Fond du Lac 0, Neenah 0: At Neenah, the Cardinals and Rockets played to a tie after weather caused to game to be stopped after halftime. Eric Fritsch had seven saves for the Cardinals. “I thought the team was really prepared to play Neenah tonight, we came out aggresively and we thought we had the better round for the first 20 minutes,” Fondy head coach Greg Winkler said.
Fond du Lac…0 0— 0
Neenah…0 0— 0
Saves: Fond du Lac (Eric Fritsch) 7, Neenah 2