Finally ahead: Hodag soccer downs Medford for first win

The 14th time proved to be the charm for the Rhinelander High School boys’ soccer team in its quest for win No. 1 on the season.

Asher Rivord headed home a Henry Bonardelli corner kick in the ninth minute, and the goal held up as the Hodags defeated the Medford Raiders 1-0 Tuesday night at Mike Webster Stadium. 

Rivord’s goal gave Rhinelander its first lead at any point this season. Eric Parish made six saves in the Hodag goal to preserve the advantage and the Rhinelander had a break or two along the way as it saw it through to the finish.

“It’s a great win for us to get out of here, 1-0,” said coach John Vojta, who finally got career win No. 1 with Rhinelander. “I mean, I thought we played outstanding against Mosinee (in a 3-0 loss Oct. 2). We had a couple mental lapses. We said, tonight, no mental lapses. So again, week by week, game by game, we’re building, I think, and getting stronger.”

Rivord tallied his second goal of the season to put the Hodags ahead early in the first half. He was positioned well on the back post to receive Bonardelli’s corner kick and nodded it past keeper Evan Paul inside the post.

“I had a freshman, Henry, serve a great corner. One of my veterans, Asher (on the) back post. He was a solid (and) put it in,” Vojta said.

Play was even most of the night as both teams amassed 15 shots. Rhinelander (1-12-1, 1-7-1-0 Great Northern) finished with a slight 7-6 advantage in shots on goal. Medford (1-9-3, 1-6-0-3) had plenty of chances in the match but could never find the equalizer. 

The Raiders had a chance to take the lead in the sixth minute as Judah Wipf found an opening in the Hodag box and fired from 15 yards. Parish got enough of the shot to deflect it off the crossbar and back into his arms off the carom. Parish was also up to the task on chances by Nathan Schuld in the 17th and 28th minutes. 

Perhaps the biggest bullet the Hodags dodged came in the 47th minute when Wipf put a dangerous cross into the box. Defender Landon Catlin nearly knocked it in for an own goal, but the ball bounced off the crossbar and Hayden Spangler missed wide from inside 10 yards on the rebound. 

    Rhinelander goalkeeper Eric Parish covers the ball after a close-range chance by Medford’s Nathan Schuld while Rhinelander defender Dean Gillingham looks on during the first half of a GNC boys’ soccer game at Mike Webster Stadium Tuesday, Oct. 7. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

Spangler also missed high on a header attempt off a Wipf cross in the 55th minute and Medford’s last best look came in the 68th minute when Jasper Stokes fired across his body from 15 yards and rolled the ball to Parish. 

“That’s part of soccer. Every once in a while, you’ve got to get a bounce to go your way, and tonight, those went our way, and we were able to finish,” Vojta said. “We’ve still got some work to do because there was at least three point-blank chances that Medford could have tied that game. I will say Eric played a heck of a game, but on those particular three chances, Eric probably didn’t stand a chance. They just missed the frame. So we still got to clean that up.”

Rivord had chances to extend the lead stopped in the 28th and 33rd minutes. He also appeared to get taken down from behind inside the Medford box in the 69th minute, but the officials let play continue and did not call a foul that would have awarded the Hodags a penalty kick. 

Tuesday’s game marked Rhinelander’s third shutout of the season. The other two were scoreless ties at Medford Sept. 11 and at Waupaca Sept. 25. 

The Hodags had junior Charlie Johnson on defense Tuesday as opposed to his traditional midfield spot. 

“Charlie’s been in back for a couple games now. He’s nursing a thigh injury,” Vojta explained. “Charlie really reads the game well and it fits that role for us. It’s not his favorite position, but I asked him to take it on and he’s been an excellent leader by doing that.”

Rhinelander looked to keep the momentum going Thursday as it played at Merrill in a game that concluded after press time for today’s edition. Visit RiverNewsOnline.com for a brief recap of that game and look for a full report in Tuesday’s River News. 

The Hodags will host Northland Pines Tuesday at Mike Webster Stadium. Rhinelander fell to the Eagles 7-1 last month in Eagle River. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].