'It has a lot to do with the culture': State tournament becomes home away from home for De Pere boys soccer
The De Pere boys soccer team will end its season in a familiar place this week.
The WIAA state tournament has become its home away from home.
De Pere is on the big stage for the third time the past four years and has moved into a tie with Green Bay Preble for the second-most state appearances by a local team since the WIAA started sponsoring a tournament in 1982.
Both programs have made 10 trips to state, one behind Green Bay Notre Dame.
This is the third instance in which De Pere has made state three times in a four-year stretch and the first since going in 2007, 2008 and 2010.
Indeed, it’s a great day to be a Redbird.
“I think it has a lot to do with the culture that has been built these last three years,” said De Pere coach Martin Valenzuela, who has led the Redbirds to a 41-16-10 mark during that span after taking over for Dusty Rhodes. “From the soccer that has been growing in the area, it has really motivated the athletes we have on the squad right now to continue fighting, to continue battling and continue doing it for each other.
“That comes down to the clubs around the area. The families that have lived soccer in their youth and kind of sharing that forward. … The culture that the sport is growing within De Pere is continually building. That helps in wanting to work, wanting to win, wanting to be out here in the offseason and doing the things that maybe some other schools aren’t doing.”
De Pere rebounds after loss to Notre Dame
The Redbirds suffered a notable defeat to end the regular season in a 4-3 loss to the Tritons, a game that determined the Fox River Classic Conference champion.
The disappointment lasted for about 24 hours, especially considering one of the Redbirds’ goals was to win a league title for the first time since capturing a share of it with Ashwaubenon in 2010.
But there were bigger things to accomplish.
Winning conference is nice. Going to state often is even better.
De Pere allowed just three combined goals in wins over Appleton West, Wisconsin Rapids, Preble and Hudson in regionals and sectionals, highlighted by a 4-2 shootout against Hudson in a sectional championship after the teams battled to a 1-all tie through regulation and overtime.
Hudson was ranked No. 4 in D1 in the state at the end of the season and was averaging 5 goals a contest during a seven-game winning streak entering its showdown against the Redbirds.
It’s not difficult to pinpoint why De Pere has been so good while led by senior forward James Dorchester, who has staked claim as the best player in the area the last few years.
He entered sectionals with 24 goals and 13 assists, including seven games in which he scored two or more goals despite being the focal point of defenses.
But what makes the Redbirds dangerous is all the players alongside their star.
They have, as Valenzuela would say, plenty of talented lads.
The midfield is top-notch with seniors Riley Nycz and Madden Skurka.
The defense often limits teams behind senior goalie Brayden Coyle, who made 15 saves against Hudson along with two big blocks during the shootout.
“Thankfully, we have an all-around squad,” Valenzuela said. “Even when (Dorchester) is being marked by two, he can still go off and beat those two. But since he’s so talented he’s taking away marks. Other players like Owen Fawcett, Jameson Jauquet, those players do a great job.
“Especially those conference games where they know James because they have been playing against him for three years, they know how to shut him down a little bit now. But those other lads are also taking advantage of those spaces.”
More soccer: West De Pere enters its historic state appearance having won 16 of its last 17 games
Redbirds will be big underdog at state
De Pere (17-3-4) will play Brookfield East (19-0-1) in a state semifinal at 11 a.m. Friday at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
The Spartans aren’t just considered the best team in the state. They are ranked No. 8 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches.
Brookfield East has allowed just eight goals in 20 games. The two goals it permitted in a comeback win over Mequon Homestead in a sectional championship was the first time this season it allowed more than one goal.
The Spartans have one of the best defensive players in the state in senior Ryan Berghauer and a top midfielder in fellow senior and leading scorer Eren Evran.
“We were talking about it (Monday),” Valenzuela said. “I forget which one of my coaches said it, but an athlete’s pressure is invented in their own mind. I think my boys know how to not do that. They go into games, ‘Hey, it’s just another game.’ We still talk about it. We watch the film. We talk about these players or that player that maybe we are scouting from some of my assistant coaches watching games.
“We try our best to shut them down as best we can. But if we can’t move into that game thinking it’s just another game we have to win, it becomes difficult. Thankfully, the boys do that well. They focus on the game at hand, and everything else is kind of just a buzz. Focus on just winning.”
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: De Pere boys soccer team makes third state appearance in four years
