This story is sponsored by Norm E Lane Farm
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield boys soccer team may have finally found the offensive punch it has been lacking for much of the season.
The Tigers got two early goals from Quinn Schuster and Matt McCann, and McCann added another goal in the second half as Marshfield shutout Wisconsin Rapids 3-0 in a Wisconsin Valley Conference game Thursday at Griese Park.
Marshfield (3-7-2, 3-4 Wisconsin Valley Conference), which has been shutout in five of its seven losses this season, has scored multiple goals in the past two games. Despite losing 6-2 to Stevens Point on Tuesday, the Tigers may have found their missing offense and it carried over into Thursday’s win over Rapids (2-8-1, 2-4-1 WVC).
“I feel like when we played Rapids last time (a 1-0 double overtime loss on Aug. 23), that should have been our game,” said sophomore Austin Gilbert, who assisted on both of McCann’s goals. “We changed up our lineup and think that really helps. We changed our lineup to a 4-4-2, and even though we lost 6-2 (to Point), I don’t think that score really showed how we played like a team. It’s looking up for us.”
Schuster scored following a deflection on a corner kick at the 14:09 mark of the first half to get the Tigers off and running.
Just 5:24 later, Gilbert touched a pass to McCann, who scored from the top of the goal box to put Marshfield up 2-0.
Marshfield outshot Wisconsin Rapids 4-2 in the first half, with goalkeeper Erik Holm coming up with a big save on a point-blank shot by the Raiders at the 32:20 mark.
“We’ve had our chances all year and they’re finally starting to fall,” McCann said. “We’re playing better as a team and we are finally scoring goals. We’re getting really nice passing.”
McCann headed in a corner kick from Gilbert 16:39 into the second half to make it 3-0. That final goal took the wind out of the sails of Wisconsin Rapids, which only attempted one shot in the final 23 minutes.
“We play a good solid passing game, that thing that has hurt us is our lack of scoring,” Marshfield coach Ron Todryk said. “We ended up with three goals today, we had nine shots on goal, which is fantastic for us.
“We’ve been a good, solid defensive team, a good midfield team, and now our striking ability is coming forth.”
The Tigers will take on Tomah at noon and Reedsburg at 4 p.m. Saturday at Griese Park. Tomah and Reedsburg will play each other at 2 p.m. to round out the Marshfield Invitational schedule.
Tigers 3, Raiders 0
Wisconsin Rapids 0 0 – 0
Marshfield 2 1 – 3
First half: 1. M, Quinn Schuster (unassisted), 14:09; 2. M, Matt McCann (Austin Gilbert), 19:33.
Second half: 3. M, McCann (Gilbert corner kick), 56:39.
Shots on goal: Marshfield 9, Wisconsin Rapids 3.
Saves: Erik Holm (M) 3; Kevin Banack (WR) 6.
Records: Wisconsin Rapids 2-8-1, 2-4-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Marshfield 3-7-2, 3-4 WVC.