HOLMEN — Nick Schellenger understands when his Holmen High School girls soccer players want answers to questions.
Schellenger’s preference is that finding those answers is a collaborative effort that makes it easier for players to be as self-sufficient as possible on the field.
That emphasis on responsibility and problem solving has worked for the Vikings this spring as experience builds and wins are stacked.
Holmen has posted a 9-3-1 overall record, is 7-0 in the MVC, and Schellenger likes the process that has produced that performance.
“I really try to empower players to make their own decisions,” said Schellenger, whose team hosts third-place Onalaska (8-5-1, 5-1-1 MVC) at 6 p.m. Tuesday. “You can’t predict the fluid, chaotic nature of the game.
“The best way to be prepared for a challenge is to be decisive, and adjustments are better made by players on the field rather than coaches yelling from the sideline.”
Schellenger is happy to share his expertise but sometimes does it in an indirect way. That builds the knowledge and decision-making he believes is required for successful teams.
Halftime discussions work the same way.
Instead of Schellenger rattling off his observations — he certainly shares what he deems necessary — of what has happened, he asks players for their views. From there, it’s a matter of guiding them to the solution.
“I just try to model the kind of language we should use to talk about the game,” he said.
If a players determines the team needs to pass the ball better, Schellenger tries to move the focus to the true need. Does the ball need to be placed differently or can better passing be generated by improved off-ball movement?
The lessons are being learned and executed by a young team that is already loaded with experience and has played well against some pretty solid programs.
Holmen isn’t just the only team to beat Aquinas — ranked ninth in Division 4 by state coaches — this season, it won that game by a 5-0 margin.
The Vikings are ranked 10th in Division 2 and have played three teams that currently sit above them on that list. Holmen tied sixth-ranked Sauk Prairie 0-0, beat ninth-ranked River Falls 2-0 and lost to fourth-ranked Madison Edgewood — last year’s Division 3 state runner-up 1-0.
Allowing three of the top nine teams in the division one combined goal should be a source of pride for a team that has held opponents to nine goals all season — five came in a loss to a Hudson program that has won two state titles since 2022, while a 1-0 loss to DeForest included an own goal — and has eight shutouts in 13 games.
Having a seasoned goalkeeper like Moira Linse at the back of a defense certainly helps, but execution in front of her to limit the number of times she is challenged in the true goal.
Linse is vocal in helping that process, and she understands the impact made by teammates like senior Morgan Potaracke and sophomore Ellie Hoehn at center back, senior Peyton Schneider at left back and the combination of junior Ava Amundson, Schneider, sophomore Aspyn Truwe, junior Madeline Pierce and junior Lauren Sommerville at fullback.
“One of the strengths we have is that we have people ready to fill in if we have injuries, and we’ve had that happen,” Schellenger said. “Our back line has such a diverse skill set that it’s fun to watch them play together.
“We have players with very different qualities.”
Those qualities aren’t limited to defensive play. Schellenger sees all of his players as part of the defensive approach and all of his players as part of the offensive approach.
“The way I look at it, all 11 players defend, and all 11 players attack,” Schellenger said. “We talk a lot about having that mindset.”
That has translated offensively into 31 goals in 13 games and a 27-1 scoring advantage in seven conference matchups.
Junior Lydia Sader had scored a team-high eight goals heading into Saturday’s 2-1 victory over New Richmond. Sophomore Ava Rivera added seven and sophomore Paige Olson four.
But the offense will be tested by the Hilltoppers, a team that beat the Vikings twice in three meetings last season. Onalaska has been a consistent measuring stick for area teams, and that is exactly what it will be for the Vikings on Tuesday evening.
“It’s a fantastic matchup, and the best part of of it is that you can see the community support,”
Schellenger said. “We have a lot of youth teams come out to that game, and it means so much for our players to see the community support.
“We are part of an outdoor sport that is generally not super well-attended, but we get huge turnout for this game.”
