Brookfield East's State Title Hopes End with Loss to Middleton

Coming into the WIAA State Tournament, the boys soccer team looked to avenge their loss to eventual state champion Marquette in last year’s semifinals.

Unfortunately, the Spartans won't get that opportunity.

That's because East fell victim to a case of déjà vu in a 1-0 loss to Middleton in Thursday’s quarterfinal at Eihlein Soccer Park.

East suffered the same result against the Cardinals just 22 days prior in a 1-0 loss.

“Unfortunately, we started too slow and we never got away from that,” Brookfield East head coach Herbert Dundun said. “A simple defensive error (cost us). The first time we played them it was the same thing and that was it. They got the opportunity, took full advantage and that was the difference.”

East (20-5) came out of the gates with the majority of the possessions, but only created one chance out of the early goings.

Junior forward John Orgovan blasted a left-footed shot inside the 18-yard-box that caught Middleton (21-3-2) keeper Max Zimmerman off guard, but the ball caromed off the near-sided post and out of play.

“I wish he had gone for the far post,” Dundun said with a smile. “We were building up and unfortunately we didn’t finish.”

The difference maker came in the 49th minute when Middleton junior Steve Harris, who scored the game-winner in the Oct. 5 matchup, received a pass just off the end line and broke toward the net. Harris initially was slowed down by a defender, but managed to keep the ball inbounds on the attempted clearance and scored on a tough angle from about eight yards out.

The Spartans had a handful of chances and pounded on the door to try and knot things back up.

Senior defender David Fuchs had his shot from the right corner of the box smothered by the keeper in the 54th minute. Just two minutes later, Peter Tongas had a header off a beautifully placed corner in the 56th minute that went just over the bar.

East had arguably their most dangerous chance in the game’s final minute when senior Mark Heydt got loose behind the defense and went all out on an long pass from the midfield. Zimmerman got to the ball just before Heydt got his foot to it, however, and the game ended 1-0.

“We thought we had gotten a break but we didn’t,” Dundun said. “We tried to work them (Middleton) out and pull them from their defensive third, but they were disciplined enough I wish them good luck in their next game.”

“In all, they (Brookfield East) had a beautiful season.”