D.C. Everest wins showdown for WVC boys soccer crown

WESTON - The drama and stakes couldn’t have been any higher for the final game of the Wisconsin Valley Conference boys soccer season.

The top two teams — D.C. Everest and Stevens Point Area Senior High — squared off with the conference championship at stake along with a possible No. 1 seed for the upcoming WIAA postseason.

Two Everest goals in a span of five minutes a little over midway through the second half proved to be the difference as the Evergreens held on for a 3-2 win to complete a perfect run through the WVC season.

Everest finished with a 10-0-2 mark in conference play and won the WVC title for a second straight year. The playoff seedings are expected to be released by the end of the weekend.

“You couldn’t have asked for a better way to finish up the season with the two undefeated teams in conference, both state ranked and it coming down to the final game (of the conference schedule),” said Everest senior Jack Mitteslsteadt, who scored two goals. “I just really felt it came down to who hard more heart and passion and we definitely gave it our all. It worked out for us.”

The two teams were tied for all but 22 seconds in the first 69 minutes of the matchup before the offenses opened in the final 20 to set up a wild finish to an intense and physical match.

Mittelsteadt headed in a arching pass from Seth Jaglinski in the 70th minute to snap a tied game, and teammate Ethan Stashek added a goal at the 74:53 mark to make it 3-1.

“I got the ball, was looking for a shot and took it,” Stashek said.. “Not thinking much, just doing what my instincts were and trying to help my team out.”

SPASH defenseman McKenan Dierkroeger scored off a corner kick in the 80th minute and the Panthers made a strong push for the tying goal over the final 10 minutes.

Panthers senior Joey Dorgan had a direct kick from roughly 30 yards out in the final minute of regulation which Everest keeper Alex Pagel was able to make a clean save on in the Panthers final strong chance.

Everest was able to kill off the remaining time and the Evergreens fans rushed the field in celebration after the final second ticked away

The loss was the first of the season for the Panthers, who finished 9-1-2 in the WVC.

“We had two really good chance in the first half that we didn’t put in. We talked about it coming in how we figured each team was going to get three or four good chances (for the game) and who capitalized on them was going to win,” SPASH coach Mark Peel said. “They capitalized on three chances and we did on two. We ended up regular season play 16--1-2 and that’s nothing to be upset about. Tonight, yeah, we wanted to be conference champions but it is what it is.”

Both teams converted on early opportunities. SPASH took the lead in the fifth minute as Brendan Leahy controlled a long through ball and to the left of the Everest net and beat Pagel on a tough angle shot into the upper right corner.

Mittelsteadt answered 20 seconds later. as TJ Knutson fed him with a pass at the Panthers right post and Mittelsteadt beat SPASH keeper

The Panthers had a chance to regain the lead in the 15th minute on penalty kick. But Pagel made a diving stop at the right post on Joey Dorgan’s attempt.

The Evergreens had about three or four strong scoring chances over the opening 20 minutes or so of the second half before Mittelsteadt converted. Twice in that span a SPASH defender was able to clear a loose ball as it was near the Panthers goal line.

“I think we had fresher legs (in the second half). We had a great rotation coming off the bench and we are deep at midfield,” Everest coach Manny Pollak said. “Just having that rotation going I think really helped us in the second half in winning a lot of 50/50 balls and putting pressure on them.”

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@timmyjo11

First half:: 1. SP, Brendan Leahy, 6:35. 2. DCE, Jack Mittelsteadt (TJ Knutson), 6:55.

Second half: 3. DCE, Mittelsteadt (Seth Jaglinski), 69:33. 4. DCE, Ethan Stashek (Matt Lukasik), 74:53. 5. SP, McKenan Diekroeger, 79:01

Saves: SPASH, Matthew Altmann 5; DCE, Alex Pagel 5