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By Mitchell A. Skurzewski
For MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – For one school it was going to be a significant breakthrough. Both Arcadia and Columbus Catholic have met in sectionals each year since 2016, but neither team has been able to reach the WIAA State Boys Soccer Tournament during those seasons.
Bill Breska netted Arcadia’s last three goals, as the Raiders defeated Columbus Catholic 4-1 at Griese Park, to ensure it would be the Raiders punching the program’s first-ever trip to the state tournament while delivering more heartbreak to the Dons.
The Dons have made sectionals the past eight seasons without reaching the state tournament. CC defeated Arcadia in the sectional semifinals last year, but fell in the sectional final. The Dons’ only trip to the WIAA state tournament was in 2006.
“We knew all year the road to state went through Arcadia,” Columbus Catholic coach Jeff Edwards said. “They are good, well-coached and fast. We have met the last few years at sectionals. But today, they finished and we didn’t.”
Arcadia took advantage scoring two early first-half goals in the first 16 minutes with Lizandro Aguilar Hearnandez heading in a goal and Breska booming a strike from 20 yards out just inside the right goalpost.
The Dons scored a key goal in the final minute of the first half as Cy Becker took a carom and booted it past a diving Marcus Lorenzo to cut the lead in half.
“I really thought we were going to score again and tie it up,” Dons coach Jeff Edwards said. “We had that momentum going and just couldn’t finish any opportunities after that. We had a few chances in the second half we just couldn’t finish, and they could. That was the difference today.”
Columbus Catholic couldn’t sustain the momentum out of halftime.
Breska notched a goal in the 66th minute and scored again with less than 10 minutes remaining.
“We worked so hard, everyone did,” Aguilar Vasquez said. “It’s a great feeling. Unbelievable. We didn’t ever know if we could get there, but now we’re going (to state).”
Arcadia coach Luis Cruz was elated for his team, but also very respectful of coach Edwards and the Columbus Catholic program.
“I am so happy for our community,” Cruz said. “I told the team something good will happen this year. I kept saying it. And it came true. I am so thankful to my AD (Athletic Director) Bruce (Schweisthal), also to Columbus. We have played them in sectionals four years in a row. I told coach (Edwards) I wish them the best and before the game said if you win you represent us, if we win, we represent you at the state tournament.”
The WIAA Division 3 State Boys Soccer Tournament will be at Kewaskum High School on Saturday, Nov. 7. Matchups and game times will be announced Sunday.
Raiders 4, Dons 1
Arcadia 2 2 – 4
Columbus Catholic 1 0 – 1
First half: 1. A, Lizandro Aguilar Vasquez; 2. A, Bill Breska (unassisted); 3. CC, Cy Becker.
Second half: 4. A, Breska (Aguilar Vasquez); 5. Breska, (Hugo Hernandez Sandoval).
Saves: A, Marcos Lorenzo 3; CC, Wyatt Drexler 9.
Records: Arcadia 8-2; Columbus Catholic 9-3.