DeForest girls soccer falls in state semifinal 1–0

DeForest's historic girls soccer season ended in a 1–0 state semifinal loss to Wauwatosa East at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.

And even in a 1-0 loss to Wauwatosa East (16-4-1) in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Division 2 state semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park, DeForest made one thing clear: DeForest aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Despite being outshot 19-1 on the day, DeForest (14-7-1) were within striking distance all afternoon long, Because of a strong effort in goal from their freshman goalkeeper, Kobi Burdick.

Altogether, Burdick had 11 saves, the WIAA reported. In the final 20 minutes of regulation, she held off a frenzy of shots from the Red Raiders, tipping the shots over the crossbar with her outstretched arms.

“I was really proud of myself, and I just knew I could do it, so I just gave it all my own, and I just went for it,” Burdick said, who had nine second-half saves.

State semifinal recap

DeForest freshman goalkeeper Kobi Burdick had 11 saves — nine in the second half — during DeForest 1-0 loss to Wauwatosa East in the WIAA Division 2 state semifinals on Thursday, June 18, at the Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.

Throughout regular-season play, Burdick split time at the goalkeeper position with senior Alice Viklund. However, Viklund was sidelined with an injury in early May and later returned home after completing her foreign exchange program.

With Burdick manning the goalpost, Wauwatosa East struck early, scoring the lone goal of the game at the 3:37 mark of the first half.

But from then on, Burdick settled right in. And so did her team, staying within the one-goal mark the rest of the way.

For DeForest, Thursday was a stark difference from its sectional final win over fifth-seeded Edgewood. DeForest scored two early goals in the first half — one from senior Marissa Titel and the other from freshman Violet Colwin — to secure the 2-0 shutout victory.

This time, DeForest found itself in a different position five days later, trailing early.

But Burdick knew her team wasn’t going to quit.

“I knew my team could do it, and they wouldn’t give up, so I just had faith in them,” Burdick said. “And I knew if I played my best, then there was really nothing else I could do, besides believe in myself.”

With Wauwatosa East striking early, DeForest was searching to find a way to wiggle in a goal against a stubborn Red Raider defense that boasted a 3-5-2 defensive formation.

In response, Norski coach Josh Howard said they tried to open up the field with their wings, spreading the back line to create space in the midfield. The goal was simple: to spread Wauwatosa East’s defense out.