“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
That sentiment by the great Dr. Seuss makes plenty of sense in theory. And down the road, Middleton’s brilliant 2018 girls’ soccer team may be able to look back and smile.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, though, last Wednesday was more about tears.
Middleton suffered a painful 1-0 loss to visiting Janesville Craig in a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal. The top-seeded Cardinals lost for the first time in 2018 to a team from Wisconsin and finished their year 13-2-3, while the fourth-seeded Cougars improved to 12-3-4.
Afterwards, Middleton’s players were both stunned and saddened that the end had arrived for this remarkably special group.
“It’s hard to lose and you just don’t expect it,” said Middleton senior forward Lexi Schultz, a tireless performer who gave a memorable effort in defeat. “That’s kind of what sucks about it, is that you’re just not mentally prepared for it.