October 4, 2017 at 2:38 p.m.
Hodags fend of Mosinee 3-2 to clinch share of GNC title
Hodags fend of Mosinee 3-2 to clinch share of GNC title
Jonus Sabani scored twice in the final 13 minutes Tuesday night as the Hodags clinched a share of the conference title with a 3-2 win over Mosinee at Mike Webster Stadium.
Sabani's one-man effort in the 78th minute put the Hodags ahead and he tacked on an insurance goal roughly three minutes later. Rhinelander needed that extra cushion after it conceded a penalty-kick goal by Tanner Cook in the final seconds of the game.
It's Rhinelander's fourth straight Great Northern Conference title, and sixth in the last eight years. "Mission accomplished," said coach Dan Millot as the Hodags played through heavy rain in the first half and poor field conditions throughout the match.
"It was a good win for us tonight," he said. "We didn't play our best but, let's face it, in between the torrential downpours and standing water on the field, we survived the game."
Matthew Von Oepen got the scoring started for the Hodags in the 21st minute, finishing a Sabani cross into the box. That score held until the 73rd minute when Cook finished a pass by Jaret Herring to square the match.
That's when Sabani, the conference's leading scorer, found another gear. He gained possession of the ball just on the Mosinee side of the half line in the 78th minute, out maneuvered a pair of defenders, beat the keeper and practically dribbled the ball into the goal.
In the 81st minute Sabani took one touch following a service into the box by Darin Bloomquist and rocketed a shot into the goal.
"All of a sudden we just turn it on," Millot said. "Those two goals came within I don't know how many minutes of each other. It's like if we can do it that quickly, why can't we throughout the entire game."
Bloomquist was called for a tripping foul inside the Hodags' 18-yard box in the dying seconds of the game. Cook converted the PK, but there was no real threat for a comeback as the double whistle blew - signifying the end of the game - only a couple of seconds after the ensuing kickoff.
"We probably didn't need to do (commit that foul) at the end of the game right there, but live and learn," Millot said. "The PK at the end was a little unfortunate but that's just the way it is. We don't give them many looks at the goal tonight. We just need to correct our mistakes."
Rhinelander finished with a 29-6 edge in total shots for the contest. Mosinee registered only three shots on goal. Josh Randolph made one save in the win.
Northland Pines defeated Antigo 9-1 Tuesday afternoon to stay alive in the conference race. The Eagles need to win their last two games and have the Hodags drop their last two to claim a share of the conference crown. Rhinelander and Northland Pines play Thursday afternoon in Eagle River.
"I have the utmost confidence in this team that if they play the way they are built to play this game - the way we've been playing all season long especially against our really tough opponents - we should be able to take it to Pines and give them a game," said Millot, who will miss the game to visit his youngest son, Gunnar, who is at college in Nebraska. "I know they are going to give us a game. We just have to make sure that we limit our mistakes."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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