May 2, 2022 at 9:27 a.m.
Now the team to beat
Hodags edge Lakeland 1-0 on Lamers' PK, take GNC girls' soccer lead
Now the team to beat
"I just had to set my mind up and I knew I had to do that for my team," she said. "Our defense did a great job. Our keeper did a great job, so I knew I had to do it for them."
Lamers converted, drilling a shot through Hamerla's hands and inside the right post in the 67th minute, which proved to be the difference maker in Rhinelander's 1-0 triumph over the Thunderbirds at Mike Webster Stadium.
It was the Hodags' ninth straight win following back-to-back losses to start the season. More importantly, it puts Rhinelander (9-2-0, 4-0-0 Great Northern) in the driver's seat to win its first conference title since 2017.
"Anything can happen from here until the end, but I'm happy with where we're sitting right now," Hodag coach Nathan Bates said. "My girls are on cloud nine and they're going to continue to keep pressing the rest of the season. I think we have a good chance of being on top."
Lakeland (6-2-0, 3-1-0 Great Northern) had the better of play much of the night, outshooting the Hodags 23-9 in the match, but sophomore goalkeeper Mya Krouze recorded a season-high 15 saves and the Hodag defense made a concerted effort to slow down Lakeland's big two of Sophia Myshchyshyn and Leah Wolfe. It all added up to Rhinelander's fourth straight shutout.
"We went in tonight with a game plan and we stuck to the game plan," Bates said. "I said right away it's going to be an ugly first half and ugly second half. We had a formation set up for this specifically. It was a very defensive formation going into the game, and we knew that.
"I think we've got the best defensive line in the conference and we showed that tonight. They shut down two of the top players in the conference and didn't give them a whole lot of opportunities all night long. Defense wins games and it won games (tonight)."
Rhinelander had a bit of offensive pressure in the buildup to the lone goal. Lamers put Nevaeh Rappley on a run up the right flank. Rappley tried to cross to McKenna Brown at the top of the 18, but Lakeland brushed it aside for a Rhinelander throw-in. Lamers took the throw, which bounced in the box and hit Lakeland defender Alyson Lazaroff in the hands, setting up the penalty kick.
Lamers then stepped up and delivered her team-leading 19th goal of the season, beating Hamerla.
"She's a very good keeper. She's very athletic, but I chose my spot and I stuck with it," Lamers said.
In particular, Rhinelander kept Myshchyshyn, the top returning scorer from last season in the GNC, in check, limiting her to only two quality chances. Krouze stopped her on a free kick chance in the sixth minute and Myshchyshyn missed wide on a one-touch shot from 20 yards in the 47th minute. Myshchyshyn also had a desperate look from the side of the box in the 77th minute that Krouze turned away.
"We really just marked up on the inside crosses," senior defender Audrey Schiek said. "And I think my other center back, Emma (Chiamulera), she does an amazing job every time. Then we have really fast wings. Just stepping and getting the ball down the field was the main thing tonight."
Lakeland still had a number of quality looks in the match. Wolfe hit the crossbar off a drop from Josie Wentland in the 24th minute and then could not stuff home a rebound chance off a corner kick in the 28th minute. Wolfe had a couple of quick shots that skipped on goal midway through the second half that Krouze turned aside.
Rhinelander's sophomore keeper was also up to the task, snuffing out scramble chances in the box in the 30th and 70th minutes.
"Oh my gosh, she saved me a bunch of times," Schiek said of Krouze's performance. "I'm really proud of Mya as well. She's come a really long way this season so far, and she definitely came through tonight for us."
"Mya had a helluva game," Bates added. "She made some big stops tonight. She sure stepped up and we're extremely proud of everything she's done. She's going to be a helluva goalkeeper the next couple of years for our team. I'm very, very proud of her."
Rhinelander's best look in the first half came in the 37th minute when Lamers won a ball at the edge of the attacking third and carried it into the box, but Hamerla was up to the task and tipped a hard shot from 12 yards over the bar. The Lakeland senior keeper erased a 3-on-1 chance for Rhinelander, winning a race to the ball in front of Hodag senior McKenna Brown in the 58th minute.
"Ava had a couple of close calls. McKenna had a couple close calls. Lakeland had some close calls and, what ended up finishing the game was a penalty," Bates said. "It was either that or it was going end up in a shootout tonight. That was for sure. My girls fought hard and they never quit, never once. I'm super proud of them for what they did tonight."
Rhinelander and Lakeland will meet again May 19 in Minocqua. Assuming both the Hodags and T-Birds take care of business in their other conference games, Lakeland will likely be playing for a chance to tie Rhinelander for the conference title in that match.
On thing is certain, following Thursday night's victory, the Hodags believe they have the ability to win the GNC.
"I think it showed the younger girls on our team we are as good as we've been putting in the work for," Lamers said. "I think this just showed to them that we can accomplish anything."
Rhinelander returns to GNC action tonight at home against Mosinee. The Indians (3-2-0, 2-2-0 Great Northern) stunned Northland Pines 2-1 on an 80th-minute penalty kick Thursday.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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