Marshfield boys soccer edges Holmen on penalty kicks to win WIAA Division 2 regional title

The Marshfield boys soccer team defeated Holmen in a WIAA Division 2 regional final Saturday at Holmen High School. (Photo courtesy of the Marshfield High School Athletic Department)

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HOLMEN – The Marshfield boys soccer team went into Holmen for a WIAA Division 2 regional final Saturday afternoon hoping to continue its season.

The third-seeded Tigers gave up an early goal, rebounded to tie it, and eventually had to go to penalty kicks where they prevailed 8-7.

Marshfield (7-7-5) will host No. 4 seed River Falls (9-10-2) on Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Heiting Community Stadium at Marshfield High School. River Falls upended No. 1 seed New Richmond in a shootout Saturday. Marshfield defeated River Falls in a nonconference game at home back on Sept. 28, 4-2.

Andrew Ripp scored just 2:34 into the game to give Holmen (14-3-3) a quick lead.

Marshfield tied it in the 31st minute as Keegan Fredrick knocked one in off an assist from Dillon McHugh.

Neither team was able to capitalize on scoring opportunities as Marshfield goalkeeper Kai Rens held his own, knocking back a number of Holmen shot attempts throughout the remainder of regulation.

After 80 minutes, still deadlocked at 1-1, the teams went to overtime, which consists of a pair of 10-minute periods. Again, neither team was able to mount much offense and the game went to penalty kicks.

Each team gets five attempts from different players before going to sudden-death. Eventually, Holmen missed, and Afton Hamill and Mitchell Kurtz slammed in shots for the Tigers to give them the victory.

Rens finished with 12 saves, while Holmen goalkeeper Kale Barclay had six.