DeForest boys soccer shuts out Waunakee 3–0

DeForest earned a 3–0 victory against Waunakee in an important Badger Conference boys soccer game.

Anchondo, a senior forward/midfielder, scored two second-half goals less than four minutes apart to lead DeForest past the Waunakee Warriors 3-0 in a crucial Badger-Large boys’ soccer match on Thursday, Sept. 17 at Waunakee High School.

Anchondo’s flurry of goals turned the game on its heels early in the second half: from a close match to a two-goal lead.

For the speedy senior, there’s a method behind the madness regarding how he finds himself open on the field.

“I’m just looking for quick...I just trust in my quick feet,” Anchondo said. “If I’m going against a player that’s not as quick as me, I just trust in my ability.”

Match highlights

Entering Thursday’s match, the two league foes, separated only 10 miles apart, boasted the top two overall records in the conference.

DeForest — ranked No. 1 in the latest Division 1 and overall Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association (WSCA) Poll and 15th nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Poll — was a perfect 8-0. Meanwhile, Waunakee was 7-1.

Neither team had lost a conference game. But something had to give as the sky quickly turned from muddy gray to a thick sheet of black on the field.

Deadlocked at zero apiece at the half, DeForest scored all three of its goals in the second half.

Anchondo scored his pair of goals at the 52:52 and 56:33 mark.

Senior captain and midfielder Brad Powers later added to DeForest's lead roughly 11 minutes later.

Powers struck his goal sharply into the upper right corner of the net. His score came at the 67:01 mark, giving DeForest a comfortable three-goal cushion with just 13 minutes remaining.

“Going into that second half, we made sure that we attacked those weaknesses (for Waunakee), and it panned out for us,” DeForest coach Josh Howard said. “And when we attack, it’s pretty to watch.”

But goals didn’t come easy in the first half for either team.

Waunakee had allowed just five goals all season long entering the game. DeForest had allowed only two.

Naturally, Waunakee had an answer to each Norski attack. And so did DeForest for each Warrior attack.

Waunakee coach Ross Nelson was impressed with his team’s overall defensive effort Thursday evening.

“The defense was really good the entire game,” Nelson said. “A couple really bad breaks, and one phenomenal shot...We have had our shots too. When you play a team that’s 15th in the country, and you play it 50 minutes even, that’s a lot to learn from and grow from. Pretty happy with how we played.”

Additional details

Waunakee senior Kallan Lezotte (left) defends DeForest senior forward/midfielder Landon Adams (right) during the Warriors’ 3-0 loss to DeForest on Thursday, Sept. 17 at Waunakee High School.

As for DeForest, DeForest's defense was equally deserving of its flowers. Junior goalkeeper Kolby Herschleb came through, bottling up several saves.

“He sees the game very well,” Coach Howard said, also crediting his team’s ability to get back behind the ball as a reason behind its success not only Thursday evening, but throughout the entire season.

“He’s very smart. He understands. He communicates well. He demands a lot from his back line, and that’s awesome to have somebody back there that’s willing to take that role.”

Following the victory, DeForest improves to 9-0 overall, including a 3-0 mark in conference play. Waunakee drops to 7-2 overall and 1-1 in the Badger-Large

Despite the loss, Coach Nelson believes Thursday’s result was yet another step in the right direction for his team.

“We know now we can do it,” Coach Nelson said. “That’s the best team in the state. So we know that we can hold them, and that means we can hold anybody down.”

Meanwhile, Coach Howard is counting on every player to contribute as DeForest near the halfway point of regular-season play.

“We got 20 guys on the roster, and it’s a 20-man push,” Howard said. “I’m excited to see what the rest of the season brings.”