MEDFORD STRIKES FIRST IN GNC

MEDFORD BOYS SOCCER

Raiders beat defending champs 4-1, tie Tigers

Rating the beauty of a soccer goal can depend on the eyes of the beholder, but when it comes down to it, they all count the same.

Such was the case Medford scored three goals off what most would agree were pretty soccer plays, while Marshfield capitalized on some bounces and being in the right place at the right time in an entertaining 3-3 non-conference tie on the Tigers’ home field.

The draw was Medford’s second in three games and put the Raiders at 4-1-2 overall heading into a key GNC battle at Mosinee today, Thursday. Marshfield now sits at 1-3-1.

“We scored three good team goals,” Medford head coach Nathan Bilodeau said. “We had some really good buildup. Zach (Rudolph) and Silas (Wipf) were menaces and they were able to capitalize on scoring opportunities. That game could’ve been 3-0. But that’s what happens. When you have a guy down with an injury, you have to make changes.”

The injury Bilodeau mentioned was suffered by senior goal keeper Jake Dassow on his thumb in the second half of Thursday’s win over Lakeland and figures to keep him out for a few weeks. Sophomore Michael Meyer got the start in net Tuesday and basically was the victim of some bad bounces.

“There weren’t quality goals scored against us and when that happens it seems demoralizing,” Bilodeau said.

To their credit, the Raiders bounced back each time Marshfield scored to tie the game. As the second half progressed, the Raiders clearly dominated play in terms of possession and scoring chances. They had a golden opportunity to take the lead with just over five minutes left, but in accordance with the theme of bad bounces, Naut van Meurs’ header off an Aaron Schield direct kick hit the right post and his rebound hit the crossbar before Adyn Gripentrog poked a third attempt high over the crossbar.

“That’s great that we’re getting these chances but we have to put them away,” Bilodeau said. “Naut played really well. It was great to have him up top, being an enforcer and putting pressure on the defense. He just has really good ball control and has the ability to slow things down, possess it and find passing lanes.”

Marshfield took its first lead 7:16 in when Brett Mannigel sent a long ball from the sideline to the front of the goal where Maahir Patel’s header hit the right post and just trickled over the goal line. Medford answered at 14:50 with its fortunate bounce of the night. Wipf advanced the ball through midfield and passed it left to Gripentrog. His attempt to center the ball bounced off the head of Marshfield’s Lukas Barth, but Rudolph beat a defender as well as goalie Kai Rens to the ball and punched it into the net.

At 17:54 a corner kick by Mannigel bounced off the head of Raider Vincent Seidel for an own goal that put the Tigers back on top. The Raiders countered at 30:56 with some nifty back-and-forth passing between Rudolph and Wipf in front of the net gave Wipf the tying goal.

The killer goal Medford would love to have back came with three seconds left in the first half. Meyer knocked down a long shot by Tiger Braxton Kurth, but the rebound went right to Mannigel for the go-ahead goal.

Medford’s momentum in the second half finally paid off at the 69:17 mark. Jimmy Murillo Aguirre started the push upfield, with Schield and Gripentrog then connecting on passes and Seidel getting the assist on a left-footed shot from Rudolph that found the low right corner of the net. Both teams had a couple of chances after that but didn’t connect.

“We definitely dominated the second half with possession and shots, you name it,” Bilodeau said. “We came out swinging. We wanted to win. It’s a true testament to the boys and their tenacity. We played down, every minute in that game we were down a goal or tied. They didn’t give up, they didn’t quit so it was good to see them want to win and put goals in the back of the net.”

Today’s game in Mosinee will be played under the new lights at Edgewood Park and starts at 6:30 p.m. The Indians, who finished second in the GNC last fall and reached the WIAA Division 3 sectional final, are off to a 1-1 start in league play, having lost a shootout to Northland Pines, and are 4-1-2 overall.

Medford is at Antigo Tuesday and at Northland Pines Sept. 15 for afternoon games that start at 4:30 p.m.

“I wanted to keep the 10 best players out there and limit shots on goal and they really didn’t shoot on us,” Bilodeau said. “That’s still the theory for Thursday at Mosinee. Let’s limit shots on goal, don’t give up any outside shots and keep Mike at peace back there, play our game and score more goals. That’s going to be the mission.”

Medford 4, Lakeland 1

On Thursday, Rudolph notched his first varsity hat trick, the Raiders’ passing was exemplary for much of the game and the defense held off almost all of Lakeland’s late efforts in a 4-1 that put Medford atop the Great Northern Conference standings after week one of league play.

With the win, Medford finished with five out of a possible six points against two teams –– Lakeland and Rhinelander –– predicted to be in the GNC championship mix. Medford tied the Hodags 1-1 two nights earlier and won the penaltykick shootout.

“I’m happy with it, but I’m not satisfied is what our coach has been saying and I couldn’t feel more the same,” Seidel said of the first week of GNC play. “I’m satisfied with this game because I think we played a very good brand of soccer. But especially on Tuesday I think we kind of settled to the level of our opponent. I think we can generally improve from it. I really want to help our team focus on playing to our level not to the other team we’re playing.”

Seidel had an unexpected spotlight thrown on him late in Thursday’s win. Dassow left the game at the 56:43 mark with his thumb injury, so Bilodeau put Seidel in that spot and dropped Adyn Gripentrog from a wing to Seidel’s defensive spot. Up 3-0 at the time, the Raiders got a huge insurance goal from van Meurs at 59:18 off an Aaron Schield sideline throw-in to pad the cushion to four. The defense did give up one goal to TBird standout Yarolsav Myshchyshyn at 62:57, but Seidel also picked up a couple of saves and was in the right positions as the defense withstood Lakeland’s aggressive attempts to take advantage of Dassow’s absence.

“I really tried to push the nerves down,” Seidel said, adding he had never played goalie in his life. “I was like, we have a 4-0 lead and I 110% trust all of my back four guys, especially with Adyn coming down to help play defense. He just did a stellar job back there and filled in for me.”

Offensively, Rudolph filled his role as finisher perfectly, but as a unit, the Raiders likely put together their best effort of the season when it came to possessing and moving the ball.

“That’s what we want,” Rudolph said. “That’s exactly how we wanted that game to go. They came out and possessed the ball well, like we expect them to do. But it’s huge to play their game against them and do it better. It’s huge for us.”

A handball in the goalie box gave Medford a penalty kick at the 24:15 mark in the first half. Rudolph took it and didn’t miss it as he went to his left while Lakeland keeper Carter Quade guessed the other way for the game’s first tally. Just 3:02 later, Gripentrog looped a perfect pass from the left sideline down the middle to Rudolph who did just enough to avoid an offside call. He hit his shot low to the left corner to make it 2-0.

“Gorgeous,” Rudolph said. “I saw his eyes peek up and he just curled it in. I don’t even know how to explain it. It was an unbelievable pass. Just threaded it perfectly. This was the best game I’ve ever seen him play.”

Seidel’s throw-in just 3:08 into the second half bounced right by a T-Birds and onto Rudolph’s foot for an easy third goal.

“Vince just put it in the right spot over their head and I just had to run onto it,” Rudolph said. “I’ve never (had a hat trick) before so it feels great. There have been games where I’ve scored two goals and then it’s been let the young guys come in. But this one I got it early and felt good, especially against a team of this quality.”

The Stetsonville men’s softball team went undefeated this summer in the Wednesday Night Wood Bat League and finished second in the league’s post-season tournament, falling to Crossroads in the championship. Russ’s Auto was the league’s regularseason runner-up.SUBMITTED PHOTO

Medford’s Silas Wipf uses some fancy footwork to maintain possession of the soccer ball while being defended by Lakeland’s Tyler Tharman during the first half of Thursday’s 4-1 in the key early-season showdown between GNC contenders.