April 13, 2022 at 10:56 a.m.
Hodag soccer downs Iron Mountain
Hodag soccer downs Iron Mountain
McKenna Brown scored three times and the Hodags dominated play in a 6-0 victory over Iron Mountain, Mich. in a non-conference match at the Hodag Dome.
After dropping their first two games in an invite April 1-2, the Hodags closed out that event with a 6-1 victory over Shawano. That momentum seemed to carry over through a week-plus of practice and into Tuesday's match.
"The girls came out. They've been practicing well," coach Nathan Bates said. "Since we had our first couple of games that we didn't really do so hot, they've been focused. They've been practicing well, moving the ball well, communicating. They seem like they've been coming together pretty well. It's early in the season, but I'm extremely proud of how they play tonight."
Junior Ava Lamers got things started for Rhinelander in the 10th minute as she dispossessed Iron Mountain back Kilee Howe on a free kick in the attacking third of the field. From there, Lamers converted the breakaway chance for her third goal of the season.
Brown took over from there. The senior netted her first goal of the night in the 20th minute getting on the end of a Eleanor Steffen service up the middle of the field. Brown raced past the defense and converted on a breakaway chance that gave Rhinelander a 2-0 lead it would carry to halftime.
A pair of freshmen hooked up for the Hodags' first goal of the second half. Leah Weigel sent a cross that got past everybody in the box except Sophie Miljevich, who was positioned on the back post and fired into an open net in the 45th minute.
Miljevich nearly had a second goal roughly two minutes later as Brown chipped a ball ahead to her at the top of the 18. Miljevich found space and rolled the ball past keeper Emily Copley. Brown tapped the ball across the line for good measure for her second goal of the night.
"Leah Weigel had a beautiful cross for an assist this evening," Bates noted. "Sophie had two beautiful finishes. I'm going to give her two, how about that? Based on Sophie getting the ball and stepping to it, McKenna was able to follow up and finish."
Brown completed her hat trick, and scored her sixth goal of the season, in the 67th minute as she took a through ball from Leah Jamison deep into the Iron Mountain box and chipped it over Copley before she could cover it.
Junior Nevaeh Rappley rounded out the scoring as she rolled one in from 12 yards just as time expired for her first career varsity tally.
"Nevaeh had quite a few attacks tonight. Every time she was in there, she was a threat. She just had a hard time trying to get it into the back of the net but, toward the end of the game she was able to put one in. It was good to see," Bates said. "It was nice to see more than just one or two girls on the team finish. In the last couple of games we've had multiple girls finish, which is good to see for our program."
Rhinelander outshot Iron Mountain 31-8 overall in the contest. Sophomore Mya Krouze recorded three saves in her first career shutout. The Mountaineers' best chances came early in the first half. Anja Kleinman got free on a counterattack in the eighth minute, but Krouze covered the ball just before Kleinman could get off a shot attempt. Abby Richer weaved through defenders in the 23rd minute but missed a shot from 10 yards wide right.
"The defense was tougher than hell tonight," Bates said. "Audrey Schiek, Eleanor, all of them back there together, they make a pretty good combination and they're able to cover each other very, very well."
Rhinelander was set to carry its 2-2 record into its Great Northern Conference opener on the road Thursday at Medford. Bates said the team enters conference play with momentum following its last two contests.
"The girls are working very well together and we'll see how it starts on Thursday against Medford," he said. "Hopefully we can continue the team atmosphere we've got going on right now. The girls get along great, which is huge. We'll keep that team-building together, we'll go out there and we'll see if we can take home our first (conference) win against Medford."
The Hodags return home to face Wausau East in non-conference play this coming Tuesday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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