Hodag soccer beats Pines in regular season finale

The Rhinelander High School boys’ soccer team closed out the regular season on a high note Thursday. The Hodags hope to be able to use that momentum to conjure up another Cinderella run in the WIAA tournament.

For the second time this season, Matthew King delivered the game-winner against Northland Pines. This time around, his strike in the 52nd minute proved to be the difference as the Hodags defeated the Eagles 2-1 at Mike Webster Stadium. 

Rhinelander (8-4-3, 6-3-0-1 Great Northern) was locked into third place in the GNC, regardless of Thursday’s result, but it was still a nice way to close out what will likely be the final home game of the season at Mike Webster Stadium. Rhinelander drew the No. 5 seed for the WIAA playoffs and will begin the tournament at fourth-seeded Waupaca this Thursday. 

“As far as our regular season goes, I’m proud of these boys,” coach John Weigel said. “Losing 11 seniors at the beginning of the year, before games even started some people kind of doubted these boys, I think, but they played a heck of a season. I’m very proud of them. I’m ready for playoffs. I think we’ve got a little momentum coming in.”

King, who headed home the game winner in the 76th minute when the Hodags defeated the Eagles 1-0 in Eagle River Sept. 14, weaved his way through traffic and found just enough space between a pair of defenders to sneak the ball through and inside the right post for the go-ahead goal on Thursday night. 

    Rhinelander’s Dalton Fritz flicks the ball between Northland Pines defenders during the second half of a GNC boys’ soccer game at Mike Webster Stadium Thursday, Oct. 12. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

That proved to be the difference as the Eagle offense did not mount any serious threats to tie the game until the final couple of minutes of regulation. 

“They played us tough both times we played them,” coach Weigel said. “I thought we had some great plays. We kept the possession of the ball, had some good give-and-goes, some good passing. It was an all-around good game.” 

Rhinelander jumped on the board first as senior Will Quinn rainbowed in a shot from outside of 35 yards that snuck in underneath the crossbar. Quinn had a couple of other long-range chances saved later in the match. 

“We tend to sometimes shoot too many from outside but, when one falls, it’s hard to argue with that,” coach Weigel said. “It was a nice strike from outside. When you have time like that, you can take a touch and get a shot from out there like that, go ahead and take it.” 

Pines drew level in the 35th minute as AJ Muench got free after contact that sent defender Neil Weigel to the turf inside the box. Play continued and Muench beat Rhinelander keeper Barak Rappley to the low left post to tie the match. 

“I thought they took out one of my defenders there, but both the (assistant referee) and the center ref didn’t see it. That’s soccer, I guess,” coach Weigel said.

Pines did not threaten again until the 73rd minute when freshman Easton Otto had a look from 10 yards deflected wide for a corner kick. The Eagles weren’t able to generate a quality look off the corner and didn’t threaten again until Rhinelander’s Mason Shinners was yellow-carded for a hard foul in the final minute. Tyler Vojta sent a free kick into the box, but the Hodags cleared it away and time expired. 

The Hodags outshot the Eagles 25-9 in the match. Rappley was credited with three saves in the victory. 

Rhinelander must now prepare for the WIAA tournament on the road at Waupaca. The Comets went 10-5-0 during the regular season and come in off a 6-3 loss to Oshkosh North Thursday in their regular season finale. 

“I’m glad we get to play somebody new,” coach Weigel said. “It’s going to be fun, long trip down there bit I’m glad we’re not right away, right off the bat, playing another conference team.”

The winner of Thursday’s game will likely face Mosinee Saturday in a regional final. The Indians, who locked up the GNC title with a 3-1 win over Medford, earned the No. 1 seed for the tournament and will face either eighth-seeded Merrill or ninth-seeded Antigo Thursday in the regional semifinal round. 

Rhinelander had a 1-1 draw and a 1-0 loss to Mosinee during the regular season, emphasizing how much parity there is in the bracket. GNC runner-up Lakeland earned the No. 2 seed while Medford received the sixth seed.

“It’s a tight conference, all of us are real close. A lot of these games are 1-0. Even some of our games that was 2-0 it was because we got down a goal and tried to make something happen at the end,” Weigel said. “It’s going to be a tough, tough bracket to get out of for whoever makes it.”

That’s why, following Thursday night’s game, Rhinelander and Northland Pines stuck around for a few extra minutes to simulate a penalty kick shootout. The Hodags won three consecutive shootouts last fall on their way to the WIAA state tournament. 

“You never know, just like last year. It’s a great opportunity for both of us,” coach Weigel said. “They start their playoffs (next Thursday) and so do we, different division, but let the kids have some fun and take some PKs here.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at jeremy@rivernewsonline.com.