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MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield boys soccer team did not score a goal in its first three games of the season, but it ended that scoreless streak quickly on Thursday.
Eli Oba scored just 5:25 into the game and the goal propelled the Tigers to a 3-1 win over previously unbeaten Wausau West in a Wisconsin Valley Conference tilt at Griese Park.
Oba scored off an assist from Austin Gilbert, and 13 minutes later Gilbert scored on an assist by Matt McCann to push the Tigers to a 2-0 lead.
Alex Kelnhofer put Marshfield up 3-0 with a goal off a deflection in front of the net at the 5:35 mark of the second half.
West, playing its Wisconsin Valley Conference opener, scored at the 54:53 on a goal by Dustin Buchberger, but Marshfield allowed minimal scoring opportunities for the Warriors the rest of the way and closed out the victory to improve to 1-3 and 1-1 in the WVC.
“I made a point at practice (Wednesday) to tell them, ‘If you don’t think you’re going to score, you’re not going to score; if you don’t think you’re going to win, you’re not going to win,’” Marshfield coach Ron Todryk said. “We needed to go out there with a positive attitude. The mental aspect is just as important as the physical aspect. You have to have confidence. As coaches, we do, so you need to as well.”
Todryk said he was pleased with both aspects of the game, and how much the Tigers have improved over the course of the first two weeks of the season.
“We made some wonderful passes – six, seven, eight passes getting the ball down the field,” Todryk said. “Chemistry on the team is definitely building. They are getting better game by game. As a coach, when you see that happening, you know things are going to happen in the right way.”
Defensively, Todryk pointed specifically to the play of Bobby Leggon and Nick Guzowski, who held reigning WVC player of the year Elliot Markqardt without a goal.
“They did a great job of shutting him down, keeping their marks on him,” Todryk said. “He got some shots but we were able to hold him down. They did a great job, along with the rest of the defensive players back there today.”
Marshfield plays at Wausau East on Tuesday and hosts Merrill on Sept. 1 as it continues its Wisconsin Valley Conference season.
Tigers 3, Warriors 1
Wausau West 0 1 – 1
Marshfield 2 1 – 3
First half: 1. M, Eli Oba (Austin Gilbert assist), 5:25; 2. M, Gilbert (Matt McCann) 18:37.
Second half: 3. M, Alex Kelnhofer (unassisted), 45:35: 4. WW, Dustin Buchberger (Pao Her), 54:53.
Saves: M, Erik Holm 6; WW, Ben Lahren 5.
Records: Wausau West 4-1, 0-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Marshfield 1-3, 1-1 WVC.