Going to State Isn’t Getting Old for Sturgeon Bay Soccer

Sturgeon Bay is heading to state for the 8th time in 11 seasons. File photo by Len Villano.

Sturgeon Bay defender Adison Benzinger admits he will be nervous when the Clippers take the pitch against Northland Pines at the WIAA Division 4 boys state soccer tournament Thursday. 

“I think the key to succeeding on the state level is to take your nerves and channel them into your game,”  said Benzinger, who was named player of the year in the Packerland Conference. “We spend the whole season preparing for this stage and I think that our team’s experience at this level gives us a real advantage.”

The Clippers drew the No. 2 seed and will play No. 3 seed Northland Pines at 1:30 p.m. at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee. Northland Pines enters the match with a 15-3-4 record, including an 8-2 win over Columbus Catholic in its section final. The Eagles finished second behind Medford in the Great Northern standings with a 5-0-4 mark.

The Clippers qualified for their third consecutive state tournament –  and 8th in the last 10 years – with a 2-1 win over previously unbeaten Oostburg in double overtime Saturday. Owen Stevenson scored the game winner late in the second overtime on an assist from Eli Dietzel. Stevenson opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a goal off of CJ Fairchild’s corner kick.

“Obviously it was an amazing team effort,” Stevenson said about his goal. “From one of our guys working the ball up the field to get inside Oostburg’s box to Eli Dietzel sending me a perfectly placed ball. It couldn’t have gone down any better.”

Sturgeon Bay coach Todd Maas – who has coached the Clippers in each of their eight state tournament appearances – said each appearance is exciting.

“Our boys work hard out of season and in season for this opportunity,” Maas said. “People don’t understand how hard it is to get wins in the postseason. These guys, our coaching staff and our soccer families all play a part in the success.”

No. 1 seed The Prairie School (16-1-5) faces Lake Mills (14-8-3) in the other semifinal. The Prairie school and Sturgeon Bay played to a 3-3 draw in the Clippers’ second match of the season. The Hawks defeated the Clippers 1-0 in the 2017 Division 4 state final.

“[A Rematch with The Prairie School] is what we’re aiming for,” said Maas, who stressed his team isn’t looking past Northland Pines. “We need to win so we both can get back to [the rematch]. Could be fun, but one game a time there big fella.”