Second-half surge pushes Wisconsin Rapids past Marshfield boys soccer

Marshfield senior Brett Mannigel negotiates the Wisconsin Rapids defense during Thursday’s Wisconsin Valley Conference boys soccer opener at Heiting Community Stadium. Wisconsin Rapids won, 6-2. (Photo by Paul Lecker/MarshfieldAreaSports.com)

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MARSHFIELD – Wisconsin Rapids blew open a tight game with four second-half goals and defeated Marshfield 6-2 in the Wisconsin Valley Conference boys soccer opener for both teams on Thursday night at Heiting Community Stadium.

Zilfi Aliu and Caleb Lemieux had goals to put Rapids up 2-0 before Maahir Patel found the net for Marshfield, off an assist from Brett Mannigel, with 3:07 to go before halftime to cut the Tigers’ deficit in half.

Wisconsin Rapids dominated the first portion of the second half, scoring four times in a span of 11 minutes to take control.

Lemieux started the second-half scoring, and Ben Weidman pushed in three goals in a little more than five minutes to give the Raiders a 6-1 lead.

Mannigel had a penalty kick in the 69th minute for Marshfield to finish the scoring.

Zak Meyer had nine saves in goal for Marshfield, which falls to 1-3 overall.

Marshfield returns to action Tuesday at home for a nonconference game against Medford.

Raiders 6, Tigers 2
Wisconsin Rapids 2 4 – 6
Marshfield 1 1 – 2
First half:
1. WR, Zilfi Aliu (Ben Weidman), 25:35; 2. WR, Caleb Lemieux (Aliu), 26:51; 3. M, Maahir Patel (Brett Mannigel), 36:53.
Second half: 4. WR, Weidman, 44:09; 5. WR, Weidman (Lemieux), 49:56; 6. WR, Weidman (penalty kick), 52:09; 7. WR, Weidman (Aiden Dunn), 55:08; 8. M, Mannigel (penalty kick), 68:46.
Saves: WR, Dalton Peterson 3; M, Zak Meyer 9.
Records: Wisconsin Rapids 3-0-1, 1-0 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Marshfield 1-3, 0-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference.