This story is sponsored by Dental Clinic of Marshfield
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
WESTON – Marshfield’s leading scorer Darian Molter spent most of Saturday’s WIAA Division 1 girls soccer regional final waiting for an opportunity.
As Rhinelander controlled the ball for most of the game, Molter was patient, knowing a chance to score would come.
It came with just under 8 minutes left and the game tied at 2-2, and Molter made the most of it. The sophomore forward drilled a shot from approximately 20 yards out into the top right corner of the net over the leaping Hodags goalkeeper Morgan Voight for the game-winner, lifting the Tigers to a 3-2 victory and a regional title at the D.C. Everest Middle School.
Marshfield (14-6-2) moves on to the Division 1 sectional semifinals for the second straight season and will take on Eau Claire Memorial (22-0-2) at 5 p.m. Thursday at Memorial High School. Memorial shut out Wausau East 6-0 on Saturday.
“It was a little frustrating that they were controlling it and we weren’t playing as well as I know we can play, but I was just waiting for the opportunity,” Molter said. “I just had a gut feeling that someone was going to get it. I didn’t know who it would be, but I just knew the chance would come for us.”
The Tigers trailed 2-1 after a goal by Rhinelander’s Gabrielle Millot with 23:13 left in the second half. Pressured to make something happen, Marshfield responded quickly.
Mardie Shanahan scored off an assists from Emily Goeppinger at the 19:06 mark to tie the game, then Molter took a breakaway down the right side and nailed the game-winner with 7:48 remaining.
“Mardie and Walker had awesome goals on crosses today and that was key,” Marshfield coach Steve Lindner said. “They made great angle runs and put them in there.
“Rhinelander really matched up well with us, but our girls never got down being down 1-0 and 2-1. We kept coming back and clawing away.”
Rhinelander (18-6-2) took a quick lead when Liz Krug scored just 4:36 into the game off an assist from Millot.
The Hodags weren’t able to get anything past Marshfield goalkeeper Jala Zahn the rest of the half and the Tigers were able to tie the game when Walker Guzowski scored on a centering pass from Emily Wolfe with 7:24 remaining in the half.
After falling behind midway through the second half, the Tigers faced some anxious moments but were able to keep their focus get their offense moving when they needed to the most.
“They controlled the ball a lot more than we did and won the 50-50 balls,” Lindner said. “Finally we got some openings and all three of our goals were just taking advantage of the opportunity.”
Memorial has allowed just nine goals this season in racking up an undefeated record. Taking out the No. 1 seed will surely be a tough task for the Tigers, but Molter said he thinks his team is up to it.
“We have to come into practice with a good mindset and be willing to work,” Molter said. “We have to make sure that all of our touches our better and everything is just perfect. We can beat this time, we all know that we can do it.”
Tigers 3, Hodags 2
Rhinelander 1 1 – 2
Marshfield 1 2 – 3
First half: 1. R, Liz Krug (Gabrielle Millot), 4:36; 2. M, Walker Guzowski 32:36.
Second half: 3. R, Millot (ua), 56:47; 4. M, Mardie Shanahan (Emily Goeppinger), 60:51; 5. M, Darian Molter (ua), 72:12.
Records: Rhinelander 18-6-2; Marshfield 14-6-2.