Blugolds soccer highly motivated - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

La Crosse, WISCONSIN (WXOW)   Aquinas soccer will get their kicks at the WIAA State Tournament for the 2nd time in the last three years and third time overall.

They earned the trip with a 2-0 win over McDonell/Regis in the sectional final.

The trip to State comes after the team was eliminated early in last year's playoffs.

Many players on this year's squad were on that 2010 team that lost in the division three championship.

After coming up short last season, they were a highly motivated group this year.

"We worked hard for it all year. We put in the time and effort after losing early last year we really wanted to get back this year. We lost to a team we shouldn't have last year. We really came out with intensity and got it done," said goalie Patrick Vandenberg.

"After our early exit last year we thought we had a really good team to make a run. All those guys from that team were coming back and they wanted it really bad this year," said head coach Lucas Eagon.

The Blugolds will play Winnebago Lutheran Academy Friday morning at 9 o'clock in the division 3 semifinals at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.