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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Pulaski scored two early goals and it proved to be too much for Marshfield to overcome as the Red Raiders went on to a 3-1 victory in a WIAA Division 2 boys soccer sectional semifinal on Thursday afternoon at Griese Park.
Ryan Hansen scored at the 10:24 mark and Connor Jones added a goal just 2:36 later to give Pulaski a quick advantage and the Tigers couldn’t recover.
Jones scored again 5:45 into the second half before Marshfield finally got on the scoreboard.
Leo Steiner drilled home a shot off an assist from Luke McCann to cut the Tigers’ deficit to 3-1.
Marshfield put on the pressure in the final 20 minutes, but couldn’t get another past Pulaski goalkeeper Matt Kaczmerek, who had five saves.
“It looked positive for us,” Marshfield coach Steve McCann said. “We won the toss, got the wind, the sun was out, it just felt good. They came hard at us and scored those two, and you can’t spot a good team like that a 2-0 lead.
“After that, I think we tightened up the defense and played with them from that point, but we couldn’t get over the hump.”
Marshfield ends its season with an 11-7-3 record after beginning the year 1-3-1. The progress the Tigers made impressed Coach McCann.
“The team gelled on the field and off the field,” Steve McCann said. “We had a really fun season. You feel bad for the seniors, but I think they had a lot of fun, a lot of good memories that’s for sure.”
Pulaski (13-6-3) moves on to the Division 2 sectional final against River Falls on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Wausau East High School. A berth in the 2015 WIAA State Boys Soccer Tournament in Milwaukee will be on the line.
Red Raiders 3, Tigers 1
Pulaski 2 1 – 3
Marshfield 0 1 – 1
First half: 1. P, Ryan Hansen (Kevin Berg), 10:24; 2. P, Connor Jones (Hansen), 13:00.
Second half: 3. P, Jones (Wesley Folk), 50:45; 4. M, Leo Steiner (Luke McCann), 59:33.
Total shots: Pulaski 7; Marshfield 11.
Shots on goal: Pulaski 7; Marshfield 6.
Corner kicks: Pulaski 5; Marshfield 5.
Saves: P, Matt Kaczmarek 5; M, Mathias Holm 4.
Records: Pulaski 13-6-3; Marshfield 11-7-3.