RHS girls’ soccer beats Medford 2-0

The Rhinelander High School girls’ soccer team raided Medford’s net for a 2-0 win on Thursday, May 21 at Mike Webster Stadium in Rhinelander. The Hodags outshot Medford 18-2 in the shutout victory.

Even with Lakeland securing the GNC title — officially locking it up with a 9-0 win over Antigo on Thursday — Hodag head coach Nathan Bates said every game is important. 

“Every game you have to come out and play like it’s a championship game,” he said. “I just want the girls to improve game by game to get ready for the postseason right now. So that’s what we have to do. Every game we go out there, we still have to play it like it’s a championship game. It’s the attitude the girls have to have if they want to try to make a good run in the playoffs.”

Even with midfielder Vivian Lamers likely out the rest of the year after sustaining a knee injury in the May 12 loss at Lakeland, Bates said Jordan Manske has stepped up to help fill her role on the field. 

“Having Viv out right now, there’s a hole we had to fill, which Jordan stepped into, and she’s doing a fantastic job at it,” he said. “It’s a brand new role for her, so ... she’s only played it two games now, so ...  we’re working on that, and then we’re also trying to work on some of our other players that are gonna be moving forward with us into the playoffs.”

Manske shattered any chance Medford had of tying the game as her goal —Rhinelander’s second on the night — came in the 79th minute. Ella Miljevich passed one to the inside for Manske to send towards the net. Her shot went off the hands of Medford’s keeper Peyton Boelk and bounced in.

“(Manske) did exactly what she’s supposed to. She’s being in the right place exactly when she’s supposed to be there, so she did a great job,” Bates said. 

Bates added that additional minutes will also be filled by some younger members of the squad, in the absence of Lamers.

“We have Basil (Chiamulera) and Lena (Chiamulera), and Kaylee (Steinmetz), and some of the other girls, so we’re trying to get them some minutes in each game, too, to get them more comfortable playing in, you know, a little bit higher intensity games versus what the JV games were.”

In addition to Manske’s dagger late in the game, the Hodags kept the pressure and intensity on Medford all night, having an 18-2 shooting advantage. 

“That’s exactly what we’re looking for,” Bates explained. “We’re trying to keep clean sheets. We’re trying to go out there and improve on the things that we have to, you know, move forward through playoffs.”

    Rhinelander’s Ella Miljevich scores a goal in the 23rd minute of a GNC game against Medford at Mike Webster Stadium on May 21. Miljevich had a goal and an assist in the game. (Blake Richard/River News)
  

Nearing the playoffs, Miljevich will continue to play her impactful role in the midfield. In the 23rd minute against Medford, she pinballed a shot off Medford defenders to break open the scoring for Rhinelander. 

Not long after, in the 32nd minute, Miljevich almost added another goal. She passed to Gabby Wanta, who then returned the favor right back, leading to an open shot for Miljevich, but the pair was unable to convert. Wanta nearly scored one herself in the 69th, but Boelk provided a barrier that kept the Hodags’ damage to one. 

Junior goalkeeper Rylee Mickevicius was a lock in front of the net, earning a shutout for the pressure-driven Hodags. 

Rhinelander plays against Mosinee at Mike Webster Stadium tonight to close out the regular season.

Blake Richard may be reached via email at [email protected].