September 12, 2018 at 1:48 p.m.
Pines downs Hodags 3-1 in GNC soccer showdown
Pines downs Hodags 3-1 in GNC soccer showdown
Northland Pines' potent scoring duo of Lochlan Siegmeier and Liam Oas connected on all three goals as the Eagles defeated the Hodags 3-1 in a battle of Great Northern Conference unbeatens at Sam Larson Field in Eagle River.
Pines tallied only three shots on goal in the entire match, all point-blank scoring chances, and made the Hodags pay for breakdowns in the defensive third of the field.
"They were definitely more defensive miscues on our part than quality finishes on their part," Hodag coach Dan Millot said. "If you make mistakes, you're going to pay for it, especially when you make them in the defensive third of the field. We paid for the mistakes that we made."
Siegmeier, who left the game for a spell late in the first half with an apparent lower-leg injury, returned in the second half and scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 48th minute. He put the nail in the Hodags' coffin in the 89th minute, scoring in transition as Rhinelander pressed for the equalizer.
"He's a nice player and tonight he performed for them," Millot said.
Siegmeier found Oas on a through ball that split the Hodag defense in the 17th minute. Oas took a couple of touches into the box and beat Rhinelander keeper Josh Randolph to make it 1-0.
Rhinelander tied the match in the 39th minute as Hunter Hicks drilled a one-touch shot from 30 yards inside the left post off a deep punt by Randolph.
Oas set up Siegmeier for what proved to be the game-winner moments into second half as he dribbled deep into the Hodag box and slotted a pass back to Siegmeier, who was left unmarked roughly 10 yards from the Rhinelander net and calmly deposited the shot into the back of the net.
Pines outshot Rhinelander 20-13 in the match, though Rhinelander had the edge in total shots on goal at 7-3.
Though Rhinelander had more shots on goal, the Hodags failed to generate many quality scoring chances.
"Our timing was a little bit off and we did not connect passes in our attacking third," Millot said. "We didn't make the runs that we really needed to make in the attacking third. We tried to do too much one-on-one stuff too far away from the goal. When you don't have subs, you get tired doing that stuff. We just need to make sure we play more controlled soccer in the attacking third.
"We had quality opportunities that we didn't finish. At the same time we didn't pull the trigger. We just held on to the ball too long."
Even though it's still early in the Great Northern Conference season, the loss put Rhinelander's conference title defense in serious jeopardy. Rhinelander (1-1-1 Great Northern) sits now a full two games back of Northland Pines (4-0-0) in the conference standings. The Hodags no longer control their own destiny in the GNC race based on Tuesday's result.
"Pines has a nice team. They were definitely going to be one of the top teams in the conference and they're consistent," Millot said. "They have weak spots just like we do, but they've got some nice players. Tonight was their. Unless they completely fall apart they should - because we have a tie - win conference.
"Conference or not, we've got to continue to play better so that when our second season starts in the WIAA tournament series we can make a run."
The Hodags return to action tonight against Medford at Mike Webster Stadium. The Raiders, based on an 8-0 win over Antigo Tuesday night, have leaped ahead of the Hodags for second in the GNC.
"Medford definitely has some speed. It's going to a tough go of it Thursday. We'll just see if these guys can pick their heads up and move forward from this," Millot said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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