Raiders run winning streak to nine

The Arcadia boys soccer team is doing exactly what everyone wants to do when the postseason is lurking right around the corner: peaking late in the year.

The Raiders (13-2-3, 7-2-0 MVC) ran their winning streak to nine with a 3-0 homecoming victory over Eau Claire North this past Friday at Cashen Field, continuing a sensational stretch that has seen them go nearly a month without a loss or draw.

Senior Ony Zaragoza got the scoring started against Eau Claire North, unleashing a rocket of a shot from distance just over eight minutes into the game for the early Arcadia lead. That 1-0 advantage lasted until the second half, when freshman Kanye Vasquez’s shot in the 60th minute was partially deflected by the Huskies’ goalkeeper but still had enough to find the back of the net.

Sophomore Henry Schank’s successful penalty kick in the 74th minute put a bow on the win for the Raiders.

Last Monday, Arcadia welcomed in Amherst and snapped the Falcons’ 11-game winning streak with a 2-0 victory. Zaragoza scored a pair of first-half goals to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead, and they managed to hang on for the win despite an Amherst penalty kick goal late in the proceedings.

The following evening at Cashen Field, senior Jorge Guardado scored the opening goal and Zaragoza added a hat trick as Arcadia went ahead 4-0 and settled for an eventual 4-2 win against Mississippi Valley Conference foe La Crosse Central.

The week prior, the Raiders went on the road and beat West Salem 4-2, then returned home to blank Sparta 3-0.

Arcadia has now outscored their opponents 31-7 during their winning streak.

The Raiders close out the regular season when they hit the road to battle Prairie du Chien/Seneca/Wauzeka-Steuben/Youth Initiative on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Prairie du Chien.

The playoffs get underway with the opening round set for next Tuesday, with the regional semifinals to follow two days later and the regional finals on Saturday.