This story is sponsored by: High Street Salon, Spa & Travel
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The season didn’t start quite the way the Marshfield Columbus Catholic soccer team had hoped, but there is plenty of the season remaining to change its fortune.
Phillips scored three goals in the first half, including one just 8 seconds before halftime, and went on to a 4-2 victory over Columbus Catholic in the season opener for both teams Tuesday at Griese Park.
Andrew Slade scored 10:48 into the game, Kenny Hoffmann added another goal at the 28:43 mark, and Jake Lemke gave the Loggers a 3-0 lead with a score right before halftime.
Columbus recovered with two goals in the second half, but the hole the Dons were in during the first half was just too big to overcome.
“We knew coming in that we would have to play a hard, physical game with Phillips,” Columbus Catholic coach Dennis Keffer said. “We could have started more physically strong. They were able to teach us a few things as far as where we need to improve.”
After the slow start, Columbus got on the board just 1:19 into the second half when Sean McCarthy scored.
Isaac Bosacki pushed Phillips’ lead back to three at 4-1 at the 56:49 mark before the Dons responded again when Christian Payant scored off an assist from Abby Strobel at the 59:20 mark. Neither team found the net in the remaining 20 minutes, with Columbus getting only two shots – both missing wide – over the final 15 minutes.
“I was proud of the recovery in the second half, I was proud of the passing connections that happened throughout the game, and with a shorter roster than what they (Phillips) had, I was proud of our players’ resiliency.
“I told them that this is the launching board. It’s not one game and that’s it, this is where we build from.”
Columbus Catholic returns to action this weekend when it plays at the Central Wisconsin Christian Tournament in Waupun on Friday and Saturday.
Loggers 4, Dons 2
Phillips 3 1 – 4
Columbus 0 2 – 2
First half: 1. P, Andrew Slade, 10:48; 2. P, Kenny Hoffmann, 28:43; 3. P, Jake Lemke, 39:52.
Second half: 4. C, Sean McCarthy, 41:19; 5. P, Isaac Bosacki, 56:49; 6. C, Christian Payant (Abby Strobel), 59:20.
Records: Phillips 1-0; Columbus Catholic 0-1.