May 6, 2019 at 1:00 p.m.
Hodag soccer downs Marshfield 2-0
RHS takes six-game winning streak into today's GNC showdown at Ashland
Hodag soccer downs Marshfield 2-0
Izzy Haverkampf scored on a penalty kick and Gwyneth Lowry tacked on an insurance goal in the second half as the Hodags defeated Marshfield 2-0 in a non-conference test at Mike Webster Stadium.
Statistics were virtually dead even in the match. Rhinelander keeper Kahlie Arneson recorded 10 saves in the win, which came after routs over Antigo and Mosinee earlier in the week in which the Hodags did not concede a single shot, let alone a shot on goal.
"Marshfield was an opponent that we needed to play," coach Richard Kotula said afterward. "It's a tougher opponent and we needed to have that challenge from other teams. This helped us put our game at a completely different level than we had been accustom to in the last two games. It was good to play that challenging game, because challenging games are ahead of us. We need to be accustom to it and figure it how to play a full 90 minutes."
Haverkampf put the Hodags on the board in the 13th minute as she was tripped from behind in the Marshfield penalty area. She struck the ensuing penalty kick past Marshfield keeper Mikayla Brueggen to give Rhinelander a 1-0 lead.
That lead stood until the 57th minute when Haverkampf found Lowry unmarked roughly eight yards from goal for an easy finish that doubled the lead. The goal was Lowry's fourth in the last two contests and it could have been more as she had good looks strike the goal posts in the sixth and 41st minutes Saturday.
"You can see her presence. She reads the play really well. She looks up and supports her teammates really well, but there were no points for her in the first (several) games," Kotula said of Lowry's play. "Then suddenly, last game she had a hat trick, today another great opportunity to score more goals. I think she's found her style and she found her positioning where she can be dangerous."
Rhinelander spent most of the second half trying to keep Marshfield's attack at bay, with many of the quality scoring chances coming off the foot of sophomore striker Kathryn Schilling. Arneson denied Schilling's advances in the 49th, 63rd and 87th minutes. She also made a diving save following a battle for a loose ball in the Rhinelander box in the 58th minute and snuffed out a Nina Hashimoto breakaway chance in the 84th minute.
"Kahlie Arneson came out strong for us," Kotula said. "There were some really nice shots. Marshfield field had a great team and hat's off to them. They had nice crossing plays. Our defense, both Emma Hjelle and Brooke Mork, did a nice job and made sure most of those dangerous plays were shut down but, when they couldn't, Kahlie came strong and made some amazing saves."
Rhinelander outshot Marshfield 17-15 in the match, but Marshfield had a 10-4 edge in shots in the second half. Both teams recorded 10 shots on goal.
"There were parts of our game where we let our guard down," Kotula said. "We didn't focus well enough and we created opportunities for them, giving them 10 shots on goal total. That's something we need to figure out how that doesn't happen in the future."
It all sets the stage for a showdown between Rhinelander and Ashland this afternoon at Ashland High School, with the winner earning the Great Northern Conference's top seed heading into the conference tournament. Ashland comes in off its first losses of the season - 4-0 to Winneconne and 3-0 to Appleton Xavier - Saturday in Eau Claire.
"I'm 100 percent sure as their team is following us as we are following them," Kotula said. "It's going to be a great battle and another challenging game. We're just taking it a day at a time right now. It's definitely going to be a challenge, but our team can definitely step up and play agains those harder opponents.
"We know they have a great program up there in Ashland, a great coaching staff and good players. We're excited for a good battle."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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