MarshfieldAreaSports.com
RHINELANDER – The Marshfield girls soccer team came close to beating Rhinelander two times this season, losing a pair of one-goal games during Wisconsin Valley Conference play.
When the two teams met in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal on Thursday, the song remained the same as the Hodags knocked out the Tigers from postseason play 3-1.
Rhinelander moves on to play a regional final on Saturday against D.C. Everest at 1 p.m. at Wausau East. Marshfield finishes its season at 3-18-2.
Rhinelander scored two goals in the first half about three minutes apart. Katelyn Krug and Claire Tracey found the back of the net against Marshfield goalie Naomi Crump, giving the Hodags a 2-0 lead.
Marshfield cut the deficit in half when Alyssa Brenner hit Emily Wolfe with a pass and Wolfe scored with 3 minutes to go in the half, making it 2-1.
Rhinelander put the game away when Haley Fransen scored with 12 minutes remaining.
“The girls played very aggressive after allowing Rhinelander to push them around a little early on, but turned it on the rest of the game and really showed a lot of heart in the game,” Marshfield assistant coach Steve Lindner said.
Seniors Laura Seeger, Katie Marotz and Myranda Schmitt, a second-team all-Wisconsin Valley Conference player this season, wrapped up their Tigers’ careers.
“The team has been a pleasure to work with this year, and the work ethic and enthusiasm displayed by the team made this year enjoyable even though we all would rather have put up many more victories,” Lindner said.
Hodags 3, Tigers 1
Marshfield 1 0 – 1
Rhinelander 2 1 – 3
First half: 1. R, Katelyn Krug (Helen Jones), 17:28; 2. R, Claire Tracey (unassisted), 21:00; 3. M, Emily Wolfe (Alyssa Brenner), 37:00.
Second half: 4. R, Haley Fransen (unassisted), 67:00.
Shots: Marshfield 9, Rhinelander 7. Saves: M, Naomi Crump 4; R, Amy Babcock 8.
