Fotsch and Friends Finally Lead Central Over East

If her play hadn’t said enough, the smile across Sarah Fotsch’s face did.

“I’ve been waiting four years to beat East,” said the Brookfield Central senior.

Fotsch scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal and anchored the Lancers’ defense in a 2-0 shutout of the Spartans on Tuesday at Brookfield East.

Central (7-1-2 overall, 2-1-1 in the Greater Metro Conference) had not topped their crosstown rivals during Fotsch’s high school career but won convincingly Tuesday. Fotsch and fellow defender Josie Nordling scored on headers and East (5-4-0, 3-1-0 Greater Metro) never put Central goalkeeper Rachel Oleson under any duress.

“Overall, I didn’t think we defended well,” said East coach Matt Schroeder. “We weren’t able to match their physicality.”

Fotsch scored in the 35th minute on a cross from Sierra High, after the Spartans had first cleared out a corner kick.

“It was a perfect ball by Sierra, you couldn’t ask for better,” Fotsch said. “… I just had that feeling, I knew it was going in.”

Nordling sealed the win by redirecting High’s corner kick in the 69th minute.

East resumes action Friday and Saturday in its own tournament, against with Neenah, Madison Memorial and No. 10 Kettle Moraine. Central, ranked No. 7 in the state, hosts Wauwatosa East on Monday.