By Mike Ramczyk
And Andrew Horschak
Sports Correspondent
The Burlington boys soccer team saw its trying season come to a close Thursday, Oct. 20 in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal.
Playing in front of a bundled-up crowd in chilly temperatures at Elkhorn Area High School, the Demons fell, 10-0, to the Elks.
Burlington, which had five early-season victories turned into forfeit defeats for using an ineligible player, wasn’t able to pick up a Southern Lakes Conference victory this season and finished with a losing record.
The Demons began the season 5-0 before suffering the ineligibility, and the season ended at 0-18-3.
Two days later, the second-seeded Elks (16-3-2) beat Baraboo, 3-0, in the regional final.
The Demons will be losing seniors Luke Betzen, Coi Hansen, Carter Lang, Colin McLaughlin, Derek Morrow, Gerson Soto and Ben Travis to graduation.
“After a positive start to the season, we had several problems come up, and the boys struggled to regain the edge they had over the first seven games,” Burlington coach Joel Molitor said. “The mental side of the game — concentration and confidence –was our biggest issue over the second half of the year.”
“There is a lot to be positive about for next season, however. We return nine starters, and several of the younger boys are ready to take the step up to the varsity level. The youth programs are doing a really nice job, and we’re looking forward to adding freshman players to the mix.”
Burlington’s early-season victories were the first for the program since 2013, and Molitor said early in the season how the program is turning things around.
Back by a new youth program and continued interest, the Demons look to be a factor soon in the always-competitive SLC.
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