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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield girls soccer kicked off the 2011 WIAA playoffs with a 4-0 shutout victory over Antigo in a Division 1 regional semifinal Thursday at Griese Park.
The Tigers (12-7) will play Wausau West (2-14) in a regional final at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at D.C. Everest. The game is the first of a doubleheader, with D.C. Everest and Rhinelander playing at 7 p.m. in another regional final. The winners will play in a sectional semifinal on June 9 at a site to be determined.
West beat Lakeland in a shootout 2-0 following a 0-0 game through two overtimes.
Marshfield beat Wausau West twice during the Wisconsin Valley Conference season.
Emily Wolfe scored at the 22:25 mark off an assist from Courtney Thumann and that proved all the Tigers would need as they had another impressive defensive performance.
Wolfe assisted on a goal by Allison Gruen just 1:47 later, sparking the Tigers.
“Those two minutes we woke up and started to really dominate the way we knew the team could if they played well,” Marshfield coach Steve Lindner said. “We had many more scoring opportunities, but Antigo goalie Cassie Brennecke was playing at an awesome level. Without here, we could have easily been up by four or five.”
Gruen and Darian Molter each scored and assisted on the other’s goal in the second half to provide the final margin.
Gruen scored at the 47:17 mark and Molter scored her 20th goal of the season 2:38 later.
The shutout was the 10th of the season for Marshfield.
“Leah Cherney had an outstanding game and put her mind to playing at a level that the team has missed in the past few games,” Lindner said. “It was awesome to see Leah turn in the game she played as she has worked hard and today it showed.
“Today the midfielders had a very nice game and played strong and took control of the game. They do not get alot of credit but they were very key to the victory. They were led by the Emily Brix, Emily Haws, Maddie Smith, Walker Guzowski and two players promoted to varsity for the playoffs – Erin Ott and Emily Goeppinger.”