Wauwatosa East Prove Why They Are Considered The Top Team In D2

Two forces in the Greater Metro Conference met last night. The top-ranked D2 team, Wauwatosa East, travelled to number six-ranked D1 Brookfield East for their first conference matchup.

Brookfield East center back and UW-Milwaukee commit Blake Schmitt missed his first match of the season after suffering a concussion in his previous contest. This injury will likely prove to be a massive blow for the Spartans as they will be without their best player for weeks to come. 

In the first half, neither team could generate many chances. There were few shots on goal, and none truly tested either goalkeeper. The match started physically. Players on both sides received yellow cards for reckless fouls, including Brookfield East defender Dylan Nyquist.

Wauwatosa East head coach Eric Dale must have made a crucial adjustment during the halftime break. Just three minutes into the second half, Red Raider defender James Fifarek scored off a free kick for the game’s opening goal.

Wauwatosa East’s first goal of the match scored by James Fifarek (5) in the 43rd minute.

Just minutes later, Wauwatosa East struck again. This time, a shot from star midfielder Luke Gendrich took a deflection off a Brookfield defender, looped over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to double their lead.

That wouldn’t be Gendrich’s only score of the game. In the 55th minute, sophomore midfielder Quinn Taylor drove into the box, splitting two defenders in his way, and took a shot that bounced off of the Brookfield goalkeeper’s gloves. Genrich was positioned perfectly for the rebound. He blasted the ball past the goalie for their third goal, which ultimately put the game to rest. 

Luke Gendrich (10) scores his second goal of the match in the 55th minute.

This dominant victory from Wauwatosa East will further cement their ranking atop the 2nd division. For Brookfield East, however, they will likely drop if their attack continues to struggle finding chances.

Wauwatosa East will have another chance to defeat a quality conference opponent next Tuesday as they travel to play Germantown on September 8th at 7:00 pm.