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Ball control focus of Comets strategy

Ball control.

Ask Waupaca girls’ soccer coach Mark Polebitski about the Comets’ 2012 season and those two words will come up time and time again in the conversation.

“It’s all about ball control,” he said during a recent practice on the team’s King Road fields.

Taking care of the soccer ball will be a key to the Comets’ success this season. Although it’s unlikely that the Comets will snap Appleton Xavier’s streak of 10 straight conference championships, Polebitski believes his team will be in the upper half of the Eastern Valley Conference will the Hawks, Fox Valley Lutheran and Winneconne.

“Xavier’s still the top dog,” he said. “They haven’t lost a conference game in 10 years.”

Waupaca used that ball control strategy Thursday, March 29, in a season-opening 1-0 win at New London.

Lizzie Hanke scored the game’s only goal in the 33rd minute. Mikaila Johnson played a short pass to Hanke in the penalty area and Hanke ripped a shot on the first touch off the volley.

Waupaca outshot the Bulldogs 11-8. Comet goalie Josie Waitrovich finished with eight saves, while New London’s Coral Managan stopped 10 of the shots she faced.

“Our offense created some great scoring opportunities throughout the match,” Polebitski said. “The finishing was a bit rough, but that will come with time. I was really impressed by the play of the defensive backs. They made it difficult for New London to mount any serious chances on goal. Our midfield and defensive backs denied the Bulldogs from mounting all but a couple serious attacks. Josie played solid in the goal and made one great defensive stand. A ball was crossed and the sun was in her eyes. She threw up both arms and made the block. Consequently she dove on a loose ball inside the 6-yard line and earned the shutout because of that.”

The Comets also started the season short-handed due to injuries, according to Polebitski.

“With a couple of key players out, we started three new defensive backs this game, along with captain Katie Womeldorf,” he said. “Womeldorf stepped up and did some great directing from the sweeper position. Sophomore Courtney Jungers and freshman Amber Van Handel shut down the New London forwards time and time again and junior Jocely Barraza really controlled the middle of the field. They played with confidence and patience.

“Up front, we had good ball movement to create opportunities and probably should have finished with a few more goals,” he added. “Lizzie and Mikaila had the New London defenders on their heels for a good part of the match. Karissa Smith and Sierra Patzke helped set up those attacks from the midfield all game long.”

If Waupaca is going to be successful this season, Smith is going to be a big part of that success. A first-team EVC all-conference player as a midfielder as a junior and last year’s team MVP, her supporting cast includes eight other returning letterwinners: seniors Jessica Maichele, Kayla Wiegert and Womeldorf; juniors Johnson and Alissa Kallevig; and sophomores Hanke, Patzke and Waitrovich.

The Comets have a number of holes to fill, including all-conference players Kirsten Fehrman, Megan Damrau and Kristen Fuss.

Waupaca’s schedule this season has a number of Division 1 teams, including Wausau West, Wausau East, Menasha and Stevens Point. The Comets traveled to Stevens Point Tuesday, April 3, to take on the Panthers. The home opener is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 16, against Hortonville.

The win was Polebitski’s 701st varsity soccer victory at Waupaca. That total includes boys’ and girls’ soccer, but not the years 1989-96, when the sport was considered a club. It was his 198th win with the girls’ program. His winning percentage since 1997 is 66 percent.

“The game gave us the opportunity to look at many new players on the varsity roster,” Polebitski said. “I am really excited about the freshman class, both the freshman on varsity and junior varsity. There is a ton of talent and desire with this group. Girls’ soccer at WHS has a bright future.”

Waupaca Comets

2012 Girls’ Soccer Schedule

Varsity

Thursday, March 29 – at New London, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 3 – at Stevens Point, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 5 – at Hortonville, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 10 – at Winneconne, 4:45 p.m.

Saturday, April 14 – at Wausau West Invitational, 10 a.m.

Monday, April 16 – vs. Hortonville, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 17 – vs. Little Chute, 7 p.m.

Monday, April 23 – vs. Wausau East, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 24 – at Ripon, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 26 – vs. Clintonville, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, May 1 – at Berlin, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 3 -at Menasha, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 4 – vs. New Holstein, 7 p.m.

Monday, May 7 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 12 – Waupaca Invitational, 9 a.m.

Monday, May 14 – at Appleton Xavier, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 18 – at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 22 – vs. Freedom (Parents’ Night), 7 p.m.

Junior Varsity

Thursday, March 29 – at New London, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 3 – at Stevens Point, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 5 – at Hortonville, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 10 – at Winneconne, 4:45 p.m.

Saturday, April 14 – at Wausau West Invitational, 10 a.m.

Monday, April 16 – vs. Hortonville, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 17 – vs. Little Chute, 7 p.m.

Monday, April 23 – vs. Wausau East, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 24 – at Ripon, 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 26 – vs. Amherst, 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 28 – Waupaca JV Invitational, 9 a.m.

Tuesday, May 1 – at Berlin, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, May 4 – vs. New Holstein, 5 p.m.

Monday, May 7 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 12 – at Wrightstown Invitational, 9:30 a.m.

Monday, May 14 – at Appleton Xavier, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 15 – at Amherst, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 22 – vs. Freedom (Parents’ Night), 4:45 p.m.

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