'I'm just so proud of the guys': West De Pere boys soccer finishes with silver ball in first trip to state

MILWAUKEE – The magical ride stopped one win short for the West De Pere boys soccer team.

The Phantoms settled for a runner-up finish in their first trip to the WIAA state tournament after a 1-0 loss to Union Grove on Saturday in the Division 2 title game at Uihlein Soccer Park.

Sure, they wanted a gold ball. But it’s difficult to be too disappointed considering what they pulled off to even be in position to win a championship.

West De Pere (18-4-2) was a big underdog in a state semifinal against No. 2-ranked Waukesha West on Thursday, but it overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit by scoring three unanswered goals in the second half and overtime. It included the game-tying score with just 14 seconds remaining in regulation.

It did it all without one of its top offensive players in senior forward Jon Romatowski, who missed both state games after sustaining an injury during a sectional championship win over West Bend West.

“I can’t be more proud,” junior midfielder Landen Arnstad said. “As much as it’s annoying to lose in the final game, knowing that we made it here, especially with how much we fought and what we have gone through the past four months, it’s really worth it.

“I’m just so proud of the guys and everyone just to bring home that silver ball. We didn’t get the gold one, but I couldn’t be more proud of what we have.”

Despite the epic comeback two days earlier, there would be no repeat against Union Grove.

The Broncos (19-4-1) controlled play throughout the first 40 minutes. They outshot the Phantoms 10-0, including five shots on goal.

West De Pere keeper Ben Woller kept his team in it early with a couple of big saves, including one right in front of the goal on a header attempt from sophomore defenseman Peyton Hoard.

Woller finished with four stops.

Union Grove finally got on the board in the 29th minute on a score from senior forward Owen Zikowski off an assist from sophomore midfielder-forward Ethan Barsch.

Zikowski made a nice kick to the right post and past a diving Woller for his team-leading 19th goal of the season and his second during the state tournament.

Zikowski had a game-high five shot attempts, including two on goal.

The Phantoms appeared to tie the game in the 39th minute on a score from Arnstad, but the goal was waved off after he was called offsides.

West De Pere coach Brian Kamler didn’t have the best view of the play being about 70 yards away from it, but he didn’t believe the Phantoms were offsides. He also knew one moment or one call, no matter how big, wasn’t what cost his team the game.

Still, Arnstad had a much better view of the situation, and he was convinced it should have been a goal.

“I was watching my line and I looked at it, and I was on,” Arnstad said. “Especially if it deflected off the guy, I thought I was on. I was waiting for that ball to come in and it came my way, and I finished it.

“There is no point in complaining. There is nothing you can do. Me personally, I think it’s a bad call, but just kind of how the game goes.”

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West De Pere still had confidence entering the second half, especially with the way things went down in the semifinal.

The Phantoms had opportunities to tie the score during the final 40 minutes, but they just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.

A shot from the middle of the box by Arnstad in the 43rd minute went wide right.

Freshman midfielder Grayson Birder blasted a shot in the 65th minute that hit the crossbar.

Senior defenseman Braden Kelnhofer had a nice shot from the top of the 18-yard box in the 68th minute, but it sailed just left of the post.

It was that kind of afternoon for the Phantoms, who faced a Broncos defense that posted its 10th shutout of the season and the second straight after blanking DeForest in a semifinal.

“I didn’t think our first half was probably our best this season,” Kamler said. “But our second (half), we created opportunities. One off the crossbar.

“Union Grove was just able to clear everything off the line, and we were just on the unlucky side today.”

West De Pere hopes this is just the start of something special after finally breaking through to the big stage.

It will lose six players to graduation, a list that includes leading scorer and standout midfielder Tyler Kowalczyk, forward Josh Oliveria, defenseman Spencer Tennessen, Woller, Romatowski and Kelnhofer, but the foundation remains strong.

This was a fun experience for the Phantoms. They wouldn’t mind doing it again next year.

“Our student group and faculty and parents have been so supportive during this whole thing,” said Kamler, who completed his second season as coach. “I felt like I was at an English football match with the way they rushed the fence. I know they probably bent it a little bit, but it was one of those moments it’s like, that’s what soccer kind of does for you.”

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: West De Pere boys soccer falls in WIAA Division 2 state title game