October 5, 2018 at 1:08 p.m.
Pines edges Hodags 2-1 to secure GNC soccer title
Pines edges Hodags 2-1 to secure GNC soccer title
A 59th-minute goal by Lochlan Siegmeier broke a tie as Northland Pines locked up the 2018 conference crown with a 2-1 victory over the Hodags at the RHS soccer fields.
The win moved the Eagles to 9-0 on the conference season, clinching outright the team's first conference title since 2013. The Hodags (3-3-2 Great Northern) had won or shared the last four conference crowns, but were already knocked out of the race this year and relegated to the role of spoiler Thursday night.
"Pines clinched conference outright tonight and they played a season that's deserving of it," Hodag coach Dan Millot said.
Just as in the first match between the teams, won 3-1 by Northland Pines last month in Eagle River, the Eagles' explosive scoring combination of Siegmeier and Liam Oas proved too much for the Hodag defense to contain.
Oas put the Eagles on the board in the 31st minute, splitting defenders after receiving a slotted pass from Bjorn Lubke before rifling a shot past keeper Josh Randolph inside the left post.
Oas was involved in the action again in the 59th minute as he made a deft pass along the left end line to an on-rushing Siegmeier, who connected in stride and finished a point-blank chance, unmarked inside the Hodags' six-yard box.
"They played well and exploited where we have some weaknesses tonight," Millot said.
Rhinelander had drawn level prior to halftime as Nicholas St. Pierre got on the end of a Martin Hoger cross to the back post and headed in the equalizer in the 39th minute. It was Hoger's third assist in the last two games - all from balls served into the box from the right flank.
"We've been scoring more of those types of goals and I've been trying to get the kids to not be jamming the ball up the middle of the field all the time," Millot said. "We're starting to work on that."
However, the first half was defined by Rhinelander's missed opportunities. Matthew Von Oepen, the team's leading scorer, got free in the Pines defense in the 16th minute and chipped a shot past keeper Colby Kruse, who was far away from his net. The shot was not struck with enough pace, however, and Pines' defender Alex Sternhagen was able to clear the ball away inches from the goal.
Hoger got free on a run in the 30th minute, had a clear look at goal inside the 18 and launched a shot well high over the crossbar.
"We had golden opportunities to put the ball in the back of the net tonight and you've got to finish," Millot said. "That's kind of been our roller coaster ride, if you will. We've been in games. There's no doubt we're in almost every game that we play, but the difference is some games we're just on fire and we score and there are some of games where we just can't find the back of the net."
The Hodags had a few chances to tie the score late in the second half. Moments after Pines took the lead, Hugh Wiese struck a hard, low shot from the top of the 18, but Kruse was up to the task in the Eagles' net. Von Oepen narrowly missed the upper-righthand corner of the goal on a direct free kick int he 64th minute. Freddy Wisner topped a shot near the 18 in the 77th minute and Kruse was able to gobble up the slow roller. Finally, Hunter Hicks missed just high on a look in the 81st minute.
Pines outshot Rhinelander 23-17 in the match, and 15-8 in shots on goal.
Thursday's game was played in front of Rhinelander High School, due to soggy field conditions at Mike Webster Stadium. The Hodags are scheduled to host Antigo Tuesday. As of press time, that game was still scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Mike Webster.
Rhinelander has Antigo and Medford to close out the regular season next week and, despite a .500 record overall (5-5-3), Millot feels his team still has an opportunity to secure one or two home games for the WIAA tournament when the bracket is set next weekend.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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