September 29, 2017 at 4:32 p.m.
Topping the T-Birds
Sabani's hat trick, Randolph's saves propel Hodags to 4-0 rout
Topping the T-Birds
Rhinelander's Jonus Sabani scored three goals and keeper Josh Randolph made a couple of highlight reel saves as the Hodags inched one step closer to another GNC title with a 4-0 victory over the Lakeland T-Birds at River Valley Bank Field.
Sabani beat Lakeland standout keeper Mason Holmquist three times in the first half as the Hodags built a comfortable lead. Randolph meanwhile stonewalled Lakeland's top offensive threat, Kieran Mullen, on a number of occasions - including a diving save on a first-half penalty kick.
"I thought we possessed the ball a lot," Hodag coach Dan Millot said. "They had some pressure on us but Josh had two huge saves tonight, especially the one on the PK. He was on top of his game tonight and I thought, as a team, when subs went in, there wasn't a lot of letdown. We picked up where we left off, rotated some people in and things were good."
The Hodags were on the board right away in the second minute after Lakeland committed a handball foul inside its own penalty area. Sabani calmly tucked the penalty kick inside the left post to give Rhinelander the early lead.
Lakeland had a chance to answer in the 12th minute after Randolph was whistled for a foul following a collision with Mullen in a scrum for a loose ball inside the box. Mullen sought the left post on the penalty kick, but Randolph dove in that direction and swatted the attempt away.
"I think that save right there set the tone for us, mentally for the first half," Millot said. "I think it also set the tone for Lakeland mentally in the first half. It's like, 'Oh my god, we can't make a PK?' That was just huge."
Randolph batted away a Brandon Boh header with his left hand a few minutes later. Then, in the 21st minute, Matthew Von Oepen sent a pass upfield for Sabani, who snuck behind the Lakeland defense and beat Holmquist 1-on-0 to give Rhinelander a 2-0 lead.
Sabani finished his hat trick in the 37th minute, gaining possession of a 50-50 ball near the half line before racing downfield in stride with a trio of Lakeland defender. Sabani took a shot from the top-right corner of the 18-yard box that appeared to graze off a Lakeland player's leg before finding the back of the net.
Millot said the three-goal cushion helped take some of the pressure off of his side in the second half.
"We didn't have to force things and I thought we possessed the ball most of the second half," he said.
Mullen tested Randolph twice more, but the junior keeper was up to task both times. Just before halftime, Mullen struck a hard shot from 25 yards toward the top left hand corner of the goal that Randolph knocked away. Randolph then denied Mullen on a kick save after Mullen got behind the Hodag defense in the 60th minute.
"He's a nice player," Millot said of Mullen. "He took some shots but Josh was right on top of those.
"Our defense was aggressive tonight. We were getting to balls, winning balls. We need to work on how quickly we turn balls over but, overall, I think we did a good job."
Von Oepen rounded out the scoring in the 83rd minute, firing home a shot following a Martin Hoger throw-in.
Rhinelander outshot Lakeland 23-11 in the match. Randolph recorded eight saves to maintain a clean sheet for the Hodags, who lead Northland Pines by two games in the GNC standings with three games remaining.
Rhinelander can clinch at least share of the GNC Tuesday at home against Mosinee. The Hodags travel to Northland Pines next Thursday.
"We're going to take one game at a time and that's how we approached tonight. We said this is a one-game season. Next Tuesday is a one-game season and if, mathematically, things work out, they work out," Millot said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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