DeForest girls soccer enters postseason after 10-win season

DeForest finished the girls soccer regular season 10–6–2 and prepared for the WIAA tournament after a schedule of close games.

But as the postseason begins, DeForest believe these experiences have prepared them for the start of the state tournament.

DeForest finished its regular season with a 10-6-2 overall record, including a 3-3-1 mark in the Badger-Large Conference, good for fifth place.

After knocking off seventh-ranked Sauk Prairie on Friday, May 8, DeForest dropped its next three games, losing 4-0 to Oregon, 1-0 to third-ranked McFarland and 2-1 to Milton.

However, DeForest closed regular-season play on a high note, securing a 3-0 shutout victory over Stoughton to get to double-digit wins this year.

Regular-season recap

Now entering the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Division 2 state tournament, DeForest is looking to build off last year’s historic season in which they fell just one game shy of a state berth. It was the deepest postseason run in program history.

“(Heading into the season), we were going to be a young team, and that definitely showed at times throughout the season,” DeForest coach Josh Howard said.

Despite entering this year with substantial unknowns, Coach Howard liked how his team continued to develop throughout the spring months, with substantial underclassmen forging into expanded roles and gaining valuable experience.

Violet Colwin, a freshman midfielder/forward, has been one to circle. While she didn’t start at the beginning of the season, she’s blossomed into a key role for DeForest offensively.

“She’s one girl that came in and hasn’t looked back. She’s had a great season,” Howard said.

In addition, DeForest expect to welcome back key pieces in its rotation after suffering injuries earlier this year, including: freshman midfielder/forward Hailey Estness and senior goalkeeper Alice Viklund.

DeForest expect to get back senior goalkeeper Alice Viklund for its postseason run.

Defensively, DeForest's backline went from three seniors and a freshman in 2025 to three sophomores and a freshman in 2026. Still, its stubborn defense has allowed just 17 goals all season. Doing the math, that’s less than one goal per game. DeForest is anchored defensively by sophomore defender Alyssa Annen.

But with regular-season play at a close, each and every team will enter the postseason with a clean slate, looking to make it to the Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.

For the battle-tested Norskies, DeForest believes their strength of schedule this year has them well-positioned to make a postseason splash.

Additional details

“We make our schedule as tough as I can to prepare the girls,” Coach Howard said. “Not every game is going to be where you’re able to pass around and score five to seven goals in a game. It might be where it’s a 1-0 game. And now that playoffs can go into extra time, you might end up in PK.”

Interestingly enough, that happened to DeForest the previous season when they defeated Waterford in the regional finals.

But as DeForest begin to put the final touches of preparation toward postseason play, Coach Howard is emphasizing one simple message to his team: leave the field with no regrets.

“As you step off that field when that last whistle blows, make sure that you leave everything out there,” he said. “You can’t be upset if you let everything out there.”

Norskies open postseason play with a bangDeForest received the No. 7 seed in Sectional No. 3 of the Division 2 bracket. This meant DeForest received the benefit of a home playoff game, where they hosted No. 10 seed Burlington (8-7-3) in the WIAA regional semifinals on Tuesday, June 2.

DeForest made quick work the Demons, securing a decisive 5-0 victory to secure a place to the regional final game on Saturday.

DeForest led 3-0 at the end of the first half, never looking back en route to the five-goal victory.

Following the victory, DeForest advances to play No. 2 seed Waukesha West for a regional title on Saturday, June 6, at 1 p.m. According to the latest Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association (WSCA) Division 2 Poll, Waukesha West is ranked No. 9 with a 13-4-2 overall record.