The countdown began back in early-September.
Middleton’s boys soccer team had just played Beloit Memorial to a disappointing draw. But Cardinals coach Kevin Pauls quickly convinced his team that a Big Eight Conference title was still quite possible.
“We talked since our Beloit tie that we had still had a chance to win the conference title,” Pauls said. “We knew with that tie, every game was basically a championship game.”
For the last six weeks, the Cardinals played like champions. And last Thursday, they completed their run to an improbable conference title.
Middleton defeated Sun Prairie East, 3-0, to capture its first Big Eight championhip since 2012. The Cardinals also toppled Madison East, 3-0, on Oct. 11.
Middleton finished 8-0-2 in the Big Eight, which gave it 26 points. Verona was second at 8-2-0 (24 points), while Madison Memorial was third at 7-1-2 (23 points).