Raiders return to state behind goal in 66th minute of sectional final

As Arcadia boys soccer coach Luis Cruz prepared his team on the field Saturday ahead of a WIAA Division Four sectional final game with a trip to state on the line, he talked more about inspiration and love for the game than he did Xs and Os.

And as he recalled the conversation following a 1-0 win over Washburn/Bayfield at Baldwin-Woodville High School — one that sends Arcadia (15-3-2 this season) to state for the second straight season — the Raiders’ coach couldn’t hide his emotions as players jumped behind him and ran by Arcadia fans holding the sectional champion plaque above their heads.

Cruz told his team to dedicate Saturday’s game to someone in their lives and to believe in themselves. 

“I dedicated this game to my brother who I lost 25 years ago,” Cruz told the Times. “I told them to dedicate it to somebody, either a family or friend, and for them we’re going to fight today, as well as for Arcadia, our community, our school and our colors.”

The Raiders are seeded fourth in the state tournament and open the event with a game against top-seeded Oostburg at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.

The game itself brought a wide array of emotions on Saturday, too. Both teams played more of a careful style in the first half, working to see what their opponent was trying to do.

Arcadia conceded some looks on defense early, but the Raiders were able to keep Washburn/Bayfield from getting shots off in the battle between the top seeds in their half of the sectional bracket.

The Castle Guards featured more size and strength on their roster than the Raiders, and it showed early on as they worked to gain inside position and won control of the ball on numerous 50/50 situations.

The teams worked to a 0-0 tie at halftime, when Cruz reminded his team that they needed to play the ball low and use their speed to their advantage instead of lobbing the ball into the air where they were less successful in the first half.

“What I told them was we have to be stronger because their team is so physical and strong. But we are more technically sound, and if we can keep the ball low we can do some serious damage,” Cruz said.

Cruz also told his team they needed to shoot the ball more instead of waiting for the perfect shot, and it was that advice that led to the game’s only goal.

Arcadia senior Jose Landeros walked to the 18-yard line and ripped a shot, but it was blocked by a diving Washburn/Bayfield defender. As the defense and Washburn/Bayfield goalie Sebastian Rosales tracked Landeros’ shot, the ball deflected to Arcadia junior Andree Gonzalez-Lawrence, who promptly sent the ball into the top left corner of the net with 14 minutes left in the game.

“I was going to try to hit it to one of my teammates closer to the goal,” Gonzalez-Lawrence said, “but then I saw I had a good shot, so I took it, and it went in.”

Rosales stopped numerous quality shots from the Raiders throughout the game, and Cruz said the Raiders were prepared to face a strong goalie after studying film ahead of the sectional final. 

He said shooting low and going for the second-effort shots allowed Gonzalez-Lawrence to catch Rosales off guard with his goal.

The Raiders have come a long way since making the state tournament last year, both Cruz and Gonzalez-Lawrence said.

For the team’s coach, working through last year during COVID changes and then repeating as sectional champions this year shows their resilience.

“We are together. Nobody is more than another player, it’s everybody working hard together as a whole team. It’s just a good team of good kids,” Cruz said.

His players think last year’s run will help them, and they are determined to leave Milwaukee as state champions this time around.

“It feels really good because we’ve been training throughout the whole summer and all season dreaming of this moment and we finally got it. It feels really good to go back to back and try to be champions,” Gonzalez-Lawrence said.

As for what’s next?

“Bring it home,” the junior said. “I dream of bringing it (a state championship) home, and I feel like we can do it. We have the technical ability to do it, and I just believe in this team and think we can bring it home.”

Arcadia 3, Aquinas 0

The Raiders advanced to the sectional final behind a shutout win over No. 3 Aquinas last Thursday in a sectional semifinal game at home.

Arcadia scored twice in the first half on goals from juniors Ricardo Juarez and Kenny Vasquez Sandoval before adding another goal in the second half to secure the win.

No stats were reported for the game.

Arcadia 1, W/B 0

Arcadia—0;1–1

W/B—0;0–0

Second half

A—Gonzalez-Lawrence (Landeros), 66:00.