PdC/River Ridge/Seneca girls soccer team ends season in regional semifinals

Tessa Czajkowski Higgins watches her header go towards the goal while Sadie Torgerson (11) and Makenna Forde (23) watch during the Hawks regional semifinal game at Delavan-Darien High School on Thursday, June 1. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)

PdC/River Ridge/Seneca’s Hannah Fritsche works to keep the ball away from the Delavan-Darien player during a D3 regional semifinal game. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
On Thursday, June 1, the Prairie du Chien/River Ridge/Seneca Hawks Girls Soccer team traveled to Delavan-Darien High School for their regional playoff game against the Delavan-Darien Comets. The Hawks were seeded number 11 and the Comets were the number 6 seed in a field of 17 teams. This was the highest seed ever accomplished by any Hawks Girls Soccer team.
The start time was delayed by over an hour due to lightning, pushing game time back to after 8:00 p.m. When the game finally started, both teams played hard, with the Comets proving to be the formidable opponent and clenching the victory 6-0. Although the score was lopsided, the Hawks played exceptionally well against a very skilled Comets team. Most importantly, the Hawks played with determination and grit the entire 80 minutes, never stopping and never surrendering. The Hawks defense of Kayli Kruk, Kylee Rogers, Hannah Dudgeon, Hannah Fritsche, Tessa Czajkowski Higgins, and Makenna Forde were challenged by repeated attacks by skilled attackers, and made many excellent stops. The Hawks’ attack was led by Tessa Czajkowski Higgins, who had 3 shots on goal. Hawks’ goalkeeper, Ava Forde, had an exceptionally busy night and came away with a season-high 27 saves.
Although this game ended the Hawks’ season, the team has much to be proud of. The Hawks’ overall record of 7-8-3 is the winningest record in Prairie du Chien Girls Soccer history. The seven wins are the most in a single season in program history (and by 3) and nearly quadrupled their win total from last year.