June 30, 2017 at 3:24 p.m.
Franson voted Hodag girls' soccer player of the year
Franson voted Hodag girls' soccer player of the year
Franson received the Hodag girls' soccer team's offensive MVP and player of the year awards Thursday during the team's end-of-season banquet in the RHS commons. Both awards were voted on by her teammates.
Franson, the Great Northern Conference offensive player of the year, scored 27 goals and tallied 33 assists on the season - both team highs.
"What you did for this team I think is self-explanatory, but you still have another year left and we want more," RHS girls' soccer coach Dan Millot said addressing Franson during the banquet. "With as much running as you do on the field, you're just completely level-headed. You don't let your mistakes get to you. You're not overly cocky, if you will, with your success. You're just level-headed from the opening whistle to the end of the game."
Franson's awards were two of nine handed out by the team. Other awards of note: senior Albiona Sabani was voted the team's defensive MVP, senior goalie Abby Oettinger was named the most improved player, senior Lauren Fabich was voted the comeback player of the year. Senior Sydney Zettler won the dedication award.
Sabani spent more time playing defense and defensive midfielder this year than in years past, a move Millot said was dictated by her ability to neutralize an opponent's top scoring threat.
"Your speed equalized things," Millot said. "You were able to add some leadership, some composure back there, ball skills, and it was fun to watch you play."
Part of the reason for Sabani's shift was an early season knee injury suffered by senior back Lauren Fabich. It was her fourth significant injury in her four-year high school career, but she worked her way back into the lineup for the final third of the season and earned the team's comeback player of the year award as a result.
"I think you coming back was just a testament to your character and who you are because you were determined to come back and you worked hard to make yourself better, to come back and play," Millot said. "That type of determination is going to carry you a long way."
Oettinger, who moved from defense to goalkeeper this season, led the GNC in goals against average (0.49) and was a close second to GNC defensive player of the year Hadley Kruse of Northland Pines in save percentage (.870) despite spending the early part of the season learning on the job.
"Abby, once we all realized that she was going to be the starting keeper on varsity, started to embrace it, especially when we were able to give her more individualized coaching at practices," Millot said. "You improved from Day 1 in that position to the end of the season and you are a huge part of our success."
Millot recognized this year's captains - Sabani, Fabich and Zettler - for their service and announced that Franson and fellow senior-to-be Anna Sturzl will share the captaincy next spring.
Additionally, senior Shelby Kuehn was presented the team's Hodag Strong Award, freshman Madi Losch won the hustle award and senior Lauryn Roberts won the team's academic excellence award. Roberts was the valedictorian of the RHS class of 2017 with a 4.585 grade point average, Millot said, noting that six members of this year's team had GPAs of 4.0 or greater.
Rhinelander went 20-4-0 in the 2017 season and captured its sixth consecutive Great Northern Conference title before losing to eventual state qualifier Pulaski on a 90th-minute goal in the WIAA regional finals.
"It was a really successful season for us," Millot said. "I think our future looks bright and I would expect that we'll achieve a few more conference championships in the very near future. You ladies have a lot to look forward to, but it's not going to happen if we don't work hard."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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