Marshfield girls soccer whips Merrill for fifth straight win

Marshfield's Megan Marotz, right, battles Merrill's Taylor LaBorde for the ball during the second half of Marshfield's 8-0 win on Tuesday at Griese Park. (Photo by Paul Lecker/MarshfieldAreaSports.com)
Marshfield’s Megan Marotz, right, battles Merrill’s Taylor LaBorde for the ball during the second half of Marshfield’s 8-0 win on Tuesday at Griese Park. (Photo by Paul Lecker/MarshfieldAreaSports.com)
Marshfield senior Maddie Smith moves the ball past a Merrill defender during the Tigers' 8-0 win on Tuesday at Griese Park. (Photo by Paul Lecker/MarshfieldAreaSports.com)
Marshfield senior Maddie Smith moves the ball past a Merrill defender during the Tigers’ 8-0 win on Tuesday at Griese Park. (Photo by Paul Lecker/MarshfieldAreaSports.com)

This story is sponsored by Victory Apparel

By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com

MARSHFIELD – The nice weather has finally allowed the Marshfield girls soccer team to get its season going, and it is making the most of it.

Marshfield scored eight times in the first half – three times in the opening 4:30 – and rolled to an 8-0 win over Merrill in a Wisconsin Valley Conference game Tuesday at Griese Park. The win is the fifth in a row for the Tigers, who improve to 6-3-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the WVC. Merrill drops to 0-8 and 0-7 in the conference.

Alison Gruen scored twice in the first 3 minutes and Julia Urban added another goal 4:38 into the game to give the Tigers a quick 3-0 lead.

Darian Molter added three goals, and Molly Field and Walker Guzowski each chipped in one for Marshfield before halftime.

“I think we’re finally connecting as a team,” Gruen said. “I think that was our biggest problem, but now we’re connecting and getting more passes together.”

Senior defender Megan Marotz said the Tigers are starting to gel.

“It’s been hard to start out because we lost a lot of strength from seniors last year, but our freshmen are starting to pick it up more and we are coming together as a team and it’s gotten to be a lot of fun,” Marotz said.

Marshfield begins a tough stretch in its Wisconsin Valley Conference schedule. The Tigers host D.C. Everest on Thursday and Stevens Point on May 16, the top two teams in the conference. Marshfield lost 3-1 to Point and 7-0 to Everest earlier this season.

“Even though we lost 7-0 to D.C. Everest, I think this time it’s going to be an even game,” Gruen said. “If we play our game, there’s no reason it should be a blowout like last time.”

Tigers 8, Bluejays 0
Merrill 0 0 – 0
Marshfield 8 0 – 8
First half:
1. MAR, Alison Gruen (Emily Goeppinger); 2. MAR, Gruen (Darian Molter); 3. MAR, Julia Urban; 4. MAR, Molter, 11:22; 5. MAR, Molter, 24:48; 6. MAR, Molly Field, 27:37; 7. MAR, Molter (Walker Guzowski CK), 29:02; 8. MAR, Guzowski, 32:06.
Shots on goal: Merrill 7; Marshfield 14.
Corner kicks: Merrill 2; Marshfield 8.
Records: Merrill 0-8, 0-7 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Marshfield 6-3-1, 5-2-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference.