Arcadia soccer continues unbeaten streak, eye return to state

When Arcadia’s soccer program lost its opening game at the WIAA state tournament last fall, coach Luis Cruz had an official tell him that he wanted to see Arcadia back in 2022. If the team’s recent play is a hint at what’s to come in the playoffs, they could be in good shape for such a return.

After back to back losses in mid September, Arcadia has been on a mission—the Raiders have not lost since Sept. 13 in a string of games that boasts six wins and one tie.

The stretch continued last week with a pair of tight wins over Sparta and Holmen after playing to a 1-1 draw with Onalaska on Monday. Stats were not reported to the Times.

Arcadia—now the 10th ranked team in Division Four with a 12-4-1 record—was set to host a pair of games this week, the first against Altoona/Fall Creek on Tuesday before Aquinas visits on Thursday.

Monday saw Arcadia take a 1-0 lead before the Hilltoppers spoiled the effort with a tying tally in the 75th minute on a penalty kick.

Coach Luis Cruz said Monday was a strong game from his squad, one that he thought featured a spread attack with passing and multiple options on offense. It was his team’s sound “technical” approach that is its identity, Cruz thinks.

Thursday’s effort against Sparta, though, was not as strong despite the Raiders still leaving with a 3-2 win.

“It was not too good from what I want to expect. We have a good team, more technical, but we gotta play way better.”

When he met with his players after the game, he told them their effort was an issue. They can’t overlook any teams as they hope to push to the end of the season and make a return to the state tournament.

The Raiders finished last week with a 2-1 win over Holmen.

As the team prepares to join the Mississippi Valley Conference next year, they are focusing on tightening up its play. The Raiders lost seven seniors last year including four starters. He likes his team’s approach on defense and at the midfield.

He wants his team to keep working and to focus on one game at a time.

“I told my kids don’t think ‘We are in at state already. We’re not at state.’ We’ve got to work harder to be there,” Cruz said.