June 6, 2018 at 12:50 p.m.
Bring on the Bulldogs
New London last step for Hodags before sectional finals
Bring on the Bulldogs
The New London Bulldogs are Rhinelander's opponent this afternoon in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal match at the RHS soccer fields.
Rhinelander is looking to return to the sectional final round for the first time since 2015, the second of its two back-to-back state tournament appearances.
"I think it would mean a lot for the program," coach Dan Millot said Monday at practice. "That was a really good group of kids, those few years. To get back, I think would show that our program is pretty consistent right now. That's a great message to send not only to other teams but our community as well. We strive to work hard. We strive to improve - some days are more difficult than others - but, hopefully, at the end of the season, we're a much better team than when we started."
The Hodags appear to be entering the match in good form, having defeated their last three opponents by a combined 27-0, including a 10-0 romp over Medford Saturday in the regional finals.
Rhinelander knows very little of the New London side it faces today, other than the team is 7-5-1 and placed third in a Bay conference dominated by West De Pere and Appleton Xavier.
"We're going to kind of prepare the way we've been preparing the whole season so far to play and worry more about our game than theirs," Millot said of the relative lack of information regarding New London, whose statistics are not publically available.
The Hodags and Bulldogs shared no common opponents this season and there are very few indirect comparisons that can be drawn between the teams. Xavier, which beat New London 6-0 back on May 1, also has a 2-0 win over Ashland to its credit. The Oredockers beat Rhinelander 1-0 on May 15.
New London defeated Amherst/Iola-Scandinavia 5-1 in the regional finals on Saturday. AIS played two GNC opponents during the course of the season, defeating Mosinee 4-2 and Medford 5-1. Rhinelander beat those two opponents by a combined 26-0 in three meeting this season.
The good news for Millot is that he has a good relationship with Amherst coach Bill Spees from their time coaching regional select teams based out of Stevens Point. Millot said Spees was able to provide the best glimpse into what New London will bring to the table.
"They like to play a similar style that we do as far as what we've been trying to do lately, and that's push the ball to the outside," Millot said. "They like to cross it. They're a well-rounded team, no real like 'this is the player you need to stop.' They have a few good players."
While well-rounded, Millot said New London's play is anchored by midfielders Shania Krake and Marissa Messina, much like the Hodags' offense runs through midfielders Alayna Franson and Anna Sturzl.
"It's kind of like us. You can mark up our top two players all day long but we've shown we've got players who can step up and score," he said. "It's like if somebody gets hurt, it's the next man up. If someone gets marked, who's going to take over that responsibility."
Speaking of Franson, Sturzl and the rest of the senior class, today's game will be their last at home, regardless of the outcome, as they look to end their final season at RHS the same they ended their freshman campaign - at the WIAA state tournament in Milwaukee.
"I think it's especially important for the seniors who have been with the program the entire four years and were significant factors in us getting (to state as freshmen) - players like Alayna Franson and Anna Sturzl," Millot said. "I know they think about it all the time about what a return trip would mean. It's up to the rest of the players to not only get them back there, but themselves."
Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. at the RHS soccer fields. The winner moves on to face either Ashland or Rice Lake for the right to go to state Saturday afternoon in Hayward.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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