September 26, 2018 at 1:02 p.m.
Hammer Time
Wiese's late goal, strong defense gives Hodags first win over D.C. Everest since 2011
Hammer Time
Josh Randolph made 12 saves, the Hodags defensive backfield snuffed out a number of other quality chances, and Hugh Wiese's 83rd minute redirection gave Rhinelander a 1-0 victory over D.C. Everest in the annual playing of the Hammer Game at Mike Webster Stadium.
It was Rhinelander's first win in the trophy game series since 2011, and came against an Everest side that came into the night leading the Wisconsin Valley Conference with a 4-0-2 league mark.
"The kids played a heck of a game," Hodag coach Dan Millot said. "Defensively, we were solid, bent but never broke."
Both teams had several prime scoring opportunities, but neither side cashed in until late in the going as the Hodags pressured in the box one more time. Martin Hoger sent in a cross from the right flank that Wyatt Haverkampf grazed with his head and deflected straight to Wiese, who was unmarked on the back post.
"It was a split-second decision and I barely touched, barely passed it into the goal with my left foot," Wiese said.
"You knew a bad bounce here, a little slip there and you give the ball away," Millot added. "Hugh was able to get a shot off and finally we put one in and finished it."
Everest missed on a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 66th minute after Rhinelander was whistled for a foul inside its own penalty area. Senior captain Andrew Marquardt took the penalty kick for the Evergreens, but put the ball straight at Randolph, who came up with his biggest save of the night.
"I was expecting a more difficult one but, things happen, maybe a mistake by him but it doesn't matter. It didn't go in," Randolph said.
Millot called the save a huge moment in the game.
"What was even better is that sometimes Josh guesses and just jumps. He just decided to read that one and didn't move," he said. "I think part of it how slippery the conditions were and the (un)sure footing. Let's face it, we were a little lucky that he mishit it a little bit, but Josh still had to make the save and he did."
Ironically, the penalty kick might not have been Randolph's most difficult save of the night. With the score still level in the 79th minute, Kole Brecke struck a hard shot from the top of the 18-yard box that Randolph deflected and then covered in front of an onrushing Tamirat Knutson. Moments after Rhinelander pulled ahead, Knutson had another look roughly 15 yards from goal that Randolph denied.
Everest's last best chance to draw level came in the 89th minute after Ethan Stashek served the ball into the box on a direct free kick. After a momentary scrum for the loose ball, Randolph collected a weak chip on goal, and cleared the ball away.
"Josh had a heck of a night," Millot said. "There's probably only one time where even a ball bounced off his hands that he covered up quickly. He was in the right position at the right time all night."
While Randolph made 12 saves, he had plenty of help from his back four, namely senior Anthony Kowalski, who drew the responsibility of marking Knutson - Everest's speedy striker - much of the night. Kowalski, and the rest of his defensive mates, were strong all night in their efforts to keep pressure off Randolph.
"Anthony Kowalski just shut down their No. 1 player up top, but it was a (team) defensive effort," Millot said. "Joseph Heck had the game of his life tonight. Harry Shinners, Russell Benoy hadn't played defensive left back in quite sometime, stepped in and did an excellent job. I can't speak enough about the great team effort tonight."
Everest's Ty Tretter matched Randolph with 12 saves in defeat, and denied a number of quality chances himself. The Hodags had a slight statistical advantage in the first half and missed an opportunity to take a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute when Hoger won a 50-50 ball against Tretter on the top right corner of the 18-yard box. With Tretter far away from his goal, Hoger chipped a shot toward frame that Nicholas St. Pierre tried to redirect in, but his last-second sliding attempt hit the left goalpost square and caromed away.
The victory moved Rhinelander to 5-8-0 all-time in the Hammer Game against D.C. Everest, which started as a bit of a light-hearted gag prior to a matchup between the teams back in 2005. Rhinelander found a sledgehammer behind its bench that year prior to its game at Everest. The two sides joked about playing for the hammer and the tradition stuck, even after Rhinelander left the Wisconsin Valley Conference in 2010. Just as important as winning the Hammer, a quality victory against a larger WVC school should serve as a major resume booster for the Hodags ahead of seeding for the WIAA tournament, which takes place early next month.
Wet and wild Webster
Tuesday night's game was played on an off surface at Mike Webster Stadium. A wet September, coupled with wear and tear from the football season, made for difficult footing for both sides in the match.
Work was done to improve the drainage at Mike Webster Stadium earlier this year, but a soft, slippery field made Tuesday night's game an adventure for both teams. Millot called the field conditions, "bad."
"You probably had as many people fall down tonight as we had shots on goals by both teams combined," he said. "I think it's unfortunate - especially the sidelines where football teams stand during their games - the field's in terrible shape. For a brand new field, it's kind of sad to see."
Up next
With rain in the forecast today, field conditions could be tricky agains tonight as the Hodags host Lakeland in a GNC matchup at Mike Webster.
Rhinelander and Lakeland played to a 0-0 draw in Minocqua Aug. 30, despite Rhinelander holding a 17-1 edge in shots on goal in the match.
"We definitely dominated the game up there, we just couldn't finish," Millot said. "I think we're doing a better job of finishing right now. We're getting quality opportunities on goal and we're going to continue to do that."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.