Columbus Catholic soccer heads to new conference, eyes another title

Columbus Catholic senior Nick Malovrh returns to the Dons’ soccer team in 2017 after scoring 12 goals and earning second-team all-conference honors a year ago. (Photo by Paul Lecker/MarshfieldAreaSports.com)

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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com

MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Columbus Catholic soccer team will move into a new conference this season after taking two of the past three championships in the Mid-State Soccer Conference, which included an unbeaten title season in 2016.

The MSSC was disbanded and Columbus Catholic will now compete in the Central Wisconsin Conference. Much of the competition remains the same, with Wausau Newman Catholic, Northland Lutheran, Stevens Point Pacelli, Tri-County and Wisconsin Valley Lutheran moving on with Columbus to join Amherst/Iola-Scandinavia/Rosholt and Gresham/Bowler in the new CWC soccer alignment.

McDonell/Regis is the odd team out in the old MSSC and will now play an independent schedule, which includes a home-and-home series for the Dons.

“We are in a new conference this season, joining some old faces and some new faces in the Central Wisconsin Conference,” Columbus Catholic coach Jeff Edwards said. “I believe we will be competitive in the conference and have a real shot at repeating as champions. The postseason is all about the match-ups. We want to have a successful season to ensure a high-seed for the playoffs. Playing at home in front of our fans is important, so we want to get those home games.”

Columbus shoots for a fifth-straight WIAA regional title overall with an experienced roster that includes six seniors and three returning all-MSSC selections, including two-time first-team pick Calvin Brown.

Second-team selections Nadim Torbey and Nick Malovrh also are back for the Dons, who finished 20-3 overall and 12-0 in conference play before losing in the WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinals to Arcadia.

Columbus allowed just 17 goals all season, seven of which came in the 7-5 loss to Arcadia.

Torbey scored 23 goals, Malovhr had 12, and Brown 10 a year ago for the Dons.

The Dons did lose a lot of firepower, however, as Mid-State Player of the Year Tyler Fuerlinger, and fellow all-conference selections Tim Gruenloh, Ryan Dieringer, Charles Payant and goalkeeper Bailey Keffer all graduated.

“I think the strengths of this team will be midfield play and our possession of the ball,” Edwards said. “This team has shown great promise with 2-3 touches and distributing the ball to the target. Our depth is something we need to develop as the season progresses. Losing five seniors who were all-conference players has an impact. We need the underclassmen to step in and earn some playing time.”

Junior Kellen Heinzen is expected to step into the goalkeeper position.

Matt Olson, Noah Hansen, Zoe Stratman and Ella Schultz join Malovrh and Brown as returning seniors.

Juniors Anna Roewe and Evan Dieringer, sophomores Tom Nystrom, Dylan Porter, Annika Brown, Addison Baierl, Zach Olson, Jonah Keffer, Lucas Reigel, Olivia Mahoney and Kevin Nguyen, and freshmen Cole Heinzen, Wyatt Drexler, Sydney Mauritz and Kellen Delaney round out the roster and will compete for playing time alongside the veterans.

Columbus opened its season at the Central Wisconsin Christian Kickoff Tournament on Aug. 25-26, and finished 1-2, with Torbey scoring five goals in the three games, including a hat trick in the opener against Neenah St. Mary Catholic. Torbey added two more goals in the Dons’ win over Northland Lutheran on Aug. 28 in their CWC opener.

Columbus opens its home season Thursday against Gresham/Bowler. The game, at Griese Park, starts at 5 p.m.

Note: This story is a corrected version of the original one posted on Aug. 30.

Click here for the full Columbus Catholic soccer schedule