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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The season is near the halfway point in the Mid-State Soccer Conference and though it is far from over, Stevens Point Pacelli now has the first leg up on the championship.
Luke Yenter scored the game’s only goal with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half as Pacelli beat Marshfield Columbus Catholic 1-0 on Thursday at Griese Park.
Pacelli improves to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Mid-State, while the Dons drop to 6-3 and 3-1 in the conference. Pacelli holds a one-game lead in the conference standings over Columbus and McDonell/Regis.
Conner Molski made nine saves in goal for the Cardinals, including a number at point-blank range in a mad flurry by Columbus to try to tie the game in the final 15 minutes.
Columbus had five direct kicks just in past the goalie box in the second half but couldn’t get one past Molski.
“He played an excellent game and made a number of great saves today,” Columbus Catholic coach Jeff Edwards said of Molski. “We created a number of opportunities; we just couldn’t put it through.”
Sean McCarthy seemingly tied the game with a goal at the 54:45 mark, but he was called for offsides and the goal was nullified.
The Dons dominated the ball going with the wind in the second half and had the ball in front of Pacelli’s net for much of the final 3 minutes. However, Columbus missed high, wide or the Cardinals were able to clear the ball each time to preserve the shutout.
“They won the coin toss and took the wind right away and had a number of chances,” Edwards said. “In the second half, we were the better offense with the wind.”
Columbus has games at McDonell/Regis in Chippewa Falls next Thursday and at Pacelli on Oct. 7, so Edwards said they know the conference title is still within reach.
“I think it really could be a dog-fight until the end with the three of us,” Edwards said. “This is a game to keep our heads up. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone played an excellent game. It’s two evenly matched teams and they got one up.”
Columbus plays at Northland Lutheran on Monday.
Cardinals 1, Dons 0
Pacelli 1 0 – 1
Columbus 0 0 – 0
First half: 1. P, Luke Yenter (Colin Jamison), 30:12.
Saves: P, Conner Molski 9; C, Evan Hansen 3.
Records: Pacelli 8-0, 4-0 Mid-State Conference; Columbus 6-3, 3-1 Mid-State Conference.