May 14, 2018 at 11:58 a.m.
Hodag soccer splits games at Everest Invite
Hodag soccer splits games at Everest Invite
The Hodags were dominated Friday, falling 5-2 to Appleton North but returned to form Saturday with a 6-0 victory over Chippewa Falls.
While Appleton North was a stronger side than Chippewa Falls, the Hodags played much differently between the two matches.
"For some reason I think we played scared and I don't know why we play like that," Millot said after his team was outshot 44-5 Friday afternoon. "We have girls that have abilities to play but, for some reason, we just don't put it together."
It was a different story Saturday as the Hodags outshot Chippewa Falls 29-5 and had four goals by halftime.
"We didn't play as strong of a team but we also played better soccer," Millot said after Saturday's match. "We connected a lot more passes today, were a little bit more aggressive to the ball. We didn't sit on our heels as much today."
Appleton North 5, Rhinelander 2
The Hodags could not contain Brynn Deaens and three goals in the final 13 minutes by the Lightning made the final score more indicative of the overall play.
Deaens scored four goals for the Lightning, and assisted on the other, as Appleton North struggled to find its scoring touch until late. Meanwhile, in a departure from recent form, Rhinelander made its chances count, scoring on both of its shots on goal.
Deaens scored in space in the 16th minute, taking a shot from 22 yards and tucking it in the upper right corner of the goal, but that was the only goal the Lightning put forth in the opening 45 minutes, despite a 22-2 disparity in shots.
Rhinelander drew level on its first shot on goal of the match in the 55th minute after Anna Sturzl received a pass from Kenedy Van Zile, took two touches and tucked a shot inside the right post.
But Deaens had the answer for Appleton three times over. She put the Lightning ahead on a shot from 30 yards that just snuck under the crossbar in the 58th minute, headed home a crossing pass in the 78th minute and tucked one more home in the 86th.
Alayna Franson scored in the 88th minute, but it was too little, too late for the Hodags and Abby Klolber put home the capper on a cross by Deaens seconds before full time.
Appleton North controlled the game in the midfield, stifling Rhinelander's possession opportunities.
"We'd actually do some nice jobs winning the ball and then we'd give the ball away. We had no possession time at all," Millot said. "We made fundamental mistakes that we need to improve upon and we just haven't been doing that."
Appleton North snapped Rhinelander's six-game winning streak and a shutout streak that had lasted 555 minutes for the Hodags.
Rhinelander 6,Chippewa Falls 0
The Hodags did a complete 180 Saturday on possession time and they dominated the match as a result.
Franson and Ella Schiek both scored twice in the contest while Sturzl added a goal and three assists.
Schiek headed home a cross from Sturzl in the seventh minute and Franson had the Hodags up 2-0 off a Sturzl pass in the 24th.
Sturzl scored herself in the 35th minute before freshman Rachel Steffen recorded her first varsity tally with a goal less than three minutes from halftime.
Schiek put the Hodags up 5-0 in the 60th minute and Franson rounded out the scoring a short time later.
Jada Appling played 65 minutes, recording two saves. Freshman Houston Mathwig made her first varsity appearance in goal and recorded a save over the final 25 minutes.
"The game allowed us to play all our players and also test out a few JV players on varsity, which we did," Millot noted. "Some of our players are banged up. By having some extra players, it allowed us to substitute when needed."
Conference showdown ahead
Rhinelander hosts Ashland this afternoon in what, for all intents and purposes, could be the Great Northern Conference championship game. Both teams come in 4-0-0 in league play and have dominated their competition.
"Whoever does come away with the win is definitely in the driver's seat, with only two games left to play and one game up," Millot said.
Ashland is responsible for Rhinelander's lone GNC loss since 2012, coming two years ago at the RHS soccer fields. That's the venue for this afternoon's match which will begin at 6 p.m.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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