Monona Grove scores early, pulls away from Baraboo in 8-0 conference match

Monona Grove seized control early and never let go Wednesday, building a four-goal first-half lead on the way to an 8-0 conference victory over Baraboo.

The Silver Eagles struck quickly in the opening half, then added three more goals before the break to take a 4-0 advantage into halftime. Monona Grove's speed to the ball and pressure on possessions set the tone, and its goalkeeper also helped organize the back line with strong communication throughout the match.

Baraboo showed stretches of solid team play despite the result. The Thunderbirds worked to stay connected as a unit, but Monona Grove continued to find chances in the second half and finished with four more goals to end the match at 8-0.

Rachel Wegner provided one of Baraboo's top efforts, battling in goal from start to finish. Her work in net helped the Thunderbirds keep competing against a steady stream of pressure, even as Monona Grove controlled much of the run of play.

Baraboo also absorbed a late setback when Aubrianna Gammara-Cook, described as a solid defender for the Thunderbirds, was injured in the second half. The Thunderbirds fell short on the road, but the team's ability to continue playing together against a fast, aggressive opponent remained one of the few bright spots in a difficult conference outing.