How Can Muskego Build Upon Previous Success This Season?
After winning a state title, most teams struggle to replicate that success in future seasons. Muskego girls soccer is different. The program wasn't merely able to win in back-to-back seasons; they managed to win four years in a row.
This sheer level of dominance is exceedingly rare. In fact, the only other school to win the WIAA D1 State Soccer Tournament four times in a row was Brookfield Central in the 2002-05 seasons.
In 2026, this Warriors squad has a unique opportunity to compete for a fifth straight title, a feat not yet seen in WIAA D1 girls soccer. I was given the chance to interview Muskego girls soccer head coach Lance Matthews about how this might happen.
Matthews plans on using part of preseason camp for co-op training sessions, where multiple schools meet up and play together. He says it’s a good way to get back into the swing of the season, as well as collaborate with other coaches during sessions.
“Yeah, it’s an exciting time of year. The girls come in with a fresh start, and I think the goals and expectations are to just maximize our potential as a new team,” stated Matthews.
He is all for celebrating the accomplishments and successes found in the past, but he also aims to redefine his group each year in order to unlock the full capabilities of his squad.
When asked about what he thought the biggest challenges he would face this season were, he said this:
“Every year we get new players in, and those new players wear a lot of weight. They come in with a lot of nerves… and they try to maybe be a player that they’ve seen in the past do well as a Muskego soccer player. One of the challenges as a coach is to remind them that we want the best version of them. We’ll work around how they fit into the system rather than them trying to be somebody that they’re not.”
One player who could help new teammates settle in is senior goalkeeper Savannah Mittelstaedt. Coach Matthews describes her as a “natural leader” on the field–one who leads by example to support everyone around her. Matthews depicted that the way Savannah trains and communicates will help younger players adjust to the level of competition in the area. He concluded by adding, “She’s going to help those new girls find their place.”
Another challenge this year’s Warriors team will face is the early departure of previous All-American defender Elsa Mauer. Now a senior, Mauer signed with USL W League team Rally Madison. This incredible opportunity to play against even greater levels of competition will keep her from playing with Muskego this spring.
When asked who could fill in at defense this spring, Matthews mentioned players Ashlynn Scharrer and Josie Kandziora.
Scharrer, a senior, has experience playing in the back line as well as in a defensive midfielder role. Last season, she battled some shoulder issues, but she should be fully healthy going into this spring.
Junior Josie Kandziora, on the other hand, has experience in all areas of the field. Matthews says she played meaningful minutes last season and will likely see time in the back line.
Muskego is also set to gain a new player whose family moved in from Arizona. The UW-La Crosse commit will help bolster the back line for this upcoming season.
Coach Matthews says that the key to defensive success this spring will be continuing to build on the experience and chemistry that this group has with one another.
The back line won’t be the only area of the squad changing this year, as the midfield and forward groups will also see new players stepping up. One such player is Sadie Mittelstaedt.
The senior midfielder was playing behind last season’s Gatorade Player of the Year, Jess Fernau. Matthews expects Sadie to step up and shine with increased opportunities this spring.
Another player mentioned by was Abby Artlip. The senior forward will play her fourth season on varsity, and Matthews hopes she uses the chemistry built with her teammates throughout her previous years to gain a critical advantage up top.
Building a “next player up” mentality is crucial towards sustaining long-term success at the high school level. With the amount of turnover that high school sports brings, due to graduation, everyone within a program must be ready to step up when players leave.
That mentality will be tested early and often throughout the spring. Being in one of, if not the most competitive conference in the state, they already have their work cut out for them. However, Matthews has plenty of tough non-conference matches scheduled.
One notable stretch will come early in the season as the Warriors will travel to La Crosse to compete in a two-day tournament. Their games include a state-final rematch against Madison West and another against a powerhouse Oregon squad.
“Those two games back-to-back will be a challenge, both physically and mentally. I’m super excited for the opportunity to kind of get the team going and get across the state together and find some good competition to battle.”
Being a top program in the state comes with a unique challenge in addition to an already difficult schedule. Matthews clarified, “I mean, we know we’re going to enter every arena, and we’re going to get the best game out of every team [we play].”
This will be especially prevalent once it's time to play teams in the Classic Eight Conference. If rivals like Arrowhead and Catholic Memorial want a chance to compete for a conference title, then they must get a result from their games against Muskego.
Coach Matthews says he’s just excited to see what the team looks like as they go out and compete every day. He believes that there will be plenty of great teams and coaches making for an exciting season of soccer.
Muskego is in a unique position to defend its state championship once again this spring. This program has what it takes to win. Will the Warriors come out on top once again to hoist the golden ball, or will somebody else swoop in to claim the title? Nobody else has proven they belong in the conversation more than Muskego.
