MEDFORD GIRLS SOCCER - Medford makes progress against another all-time tough soccer foe

MEDFORD GIRLS SOCCER

Like Rhinelander earlier in the season, Ashland is another team the Medford girls soccer program has never beaten in its relatively short history. That streak didn’t end Thursday, but the Raiders felt they made some progress against the Oredockers in a 3-0 loss at Northland College.

The last three meetings had been 6-0 losses and, in last year’s meeting at the MAES field, Ashland took a ridiculous 65 shots.

The shots were nearly cut in half to 36 with Medford goal keeper Sophia Brunner getting 27 saves Thursday with one of them coming on a penalty kick.

Hannah Bochler had all three goals for Ashland, who improved to 16-2-1 this season and 12-0 all-time against Medford. The teams would see each other again at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Ashland if they win their WIAA Division 3 regional semifinals tonight, Thursday.

“Defensively, outside of the goals, I thought we did a good job of pressuring them,” Medford head coach Tanya Tessmann said. “We did a better job than the last two games of dropping back and supporting each other. We just failed to generate many opportunities offensively. But they’re the number-one seed (in the sectional half-bracket) for a reason.”

The three goals was the most Medford has given up in a game all season. It was only the second time the Raiders have allowed more than one.

Bochler got her first goal just 1:58 into the game, crossing the ball in front of her body and hitting the far left corner.

“Just a good shot,” Tessmann said. In about the 33rd minute, Bochler was awarded a penalty shot after a handball in the box was called on Medford, though Tessmann said the Raiders weren’t in full agreement with the call. Nonetheless, Brunner came up with a big play to keep Bochler’s shot out of the net.

“Brunner made a well-educated guess and dove to her left,” Tessmann said.

Unfortunately, the Oredockers kept the pressure on and just over a minute later, Bochler lofted a shot from about 30 yards out that found its target and gave Ashland a 2-0 lead.

The one time, Medford was a little slow getting back in transition in the second half, Ashland made the Raiders pay. It came in the 55th minute with Bochler just getting her shot past the diving Brunner.

Tessmann credited defenders Masaeda Krug and Hannah Fleegel with some nice clearing plays in front of Brunner. Nikki Poetzl had another when Brunner was positioned in the opposite corner and no other Raider was around. Tessmann noted there was another occasion where Brunner made a tough save and Talyn Peterson cleared the rebound.

“Sophia really played a great game,” Tessmann said. “Sierra Tessmann had some great dribbling runs through the middle where she had tons of time and had some room up top.”

Ashland split playing time between its keepers Maggie Tutor and Cadence Williams, crediting each with a save in 40 minutes of play. Bayley Metz had one of those shots on a play where Medford felt there was a handball that wasn’t called.

Medford finished the regular season 7-8-3. The fourth-seeded Raiders host fifth-seeded Waupaca tonight, Thursday, at 7 p.m. in their regional semifinal. Medford beat the Comets 2-0 on May 2. Ashland hosts eighth-seeded Amherst/ Iola-Scandinavia Thursday. The Falcons beat Antigo 3-0 Tuesday in an eight/nine play-in regional game.