MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Bo Howard and Austin Littmann scored goals in the first period to get the Marshfield boys hockey team off to the quick start it wanted, and the goals stood up as the Tigers beat Ashland 2-1 on Tuesday in a WIAA regional semifinal at the Marshfield Youth Ice and Recreation Center.
The win moves the Tigers (8-16) into a regional final at 7 p.m. Friday at Eau Claire Memorial (16-5-1).
Howard, a freshman, scored at the 7:54 mark off an assist by fellow freshman Schuyler Seyfert to put the Tigers up 1-0.
Marshfield extended the lead to 2-0 as sophomore Austin Littmann found the net off an assist from Brennan Smith and Tom Claessens.
The victory snaps a seven-game losing streak and a skid that saw Marshfield lose nine of its final 10 games of the regular season.
“We played well in our defensive zone,” Marshfield coach Mike Hanke said. “(Goalie) David Kluball made the first save and didn’t give them a second shot.”
Kluball finished with 28 saves, allowing a second-period goal to Cody Turgeon, but made Marshfield’s lead hold up in the third period.
“We outshot them 10-4 in first period and were really rolling,” Hanke said. “We got a big play by Brennan Smith and Tom Claessens (to set up Littman). In the second we played well and had numerous chances, but their goalie played some excellent hockey.
“In the third we took a stupid penalty and we really have to limit those.”
Hanke said the Tigers will have their work cut out for them to be able to knock off Eau Claire Memorial and reach next week’s sectional.
“It will take every man playing great hockey,” Hanke said. “It will be a David vs. Golliath type thing. If Kluball can play hot, and we get guys to play solid, we have the talent to come out on top.”
Tigers 2, Oredockers 1
Ashland 0 1 0 – 1
Marshfield 2 0 0 – 2
First period
1. M, Bo Howard (Schuyler Seyfert) 7:54; 2. M, Austin Littmann (Brennan Smith, Tom Claessens), 9:30.
Second period
3. A, Cody Turgeon (Josh Smith), 16:22, power play.
Third period
No scoring.
Saves: M, David Kluball 28; A, Dylan Hudson 28.
Records: Marshfield 8-16; A 5-15.
