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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – For the first time in four years, the Marshfield boys soccer team will be playing in the sectionals.
Austin Gilbert scored twice for the Tigers and Matt Brown was busy in goal, saving nine shots, as Marshfield edged Shawano 2-1 in a WIAA Division 2 regional final Thursday at Griese Park.
Marshfield (18-4-2), the No. 1 seed in its half of Sectional No. 1, will host No. 2 Pulaski (11-12) in a sectional semifinal next Thursday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m. at Griese Park. The winner will play in the sectional final on Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m. at Griese Park for a berth in the WIAA State Boys Soccer Tournament in Milwaukee.
“Matt’s done a super job for us all year,” Marshfield coach Ron Todryk said. “He’s covering for the other 10 players out there. If they make a mistake, he’s got the last chance to keep us in the game, and he did that today.”
Marshfield had two goals disallowed in a span of just 28 seconds midway through the first half due to offsides calls. However, the Tigers caught a break when Shawano was called for a penalty in the goalie box. Gilbert drilled home a penalty kick at the 30:53 mark to give Marshfield a 1-0 lead.
Shawano caught a break itself just 2:14 later when the Tigers were called for a penalty in their goal box. Garret Schlise hit the penalty kick for the Hawks to knot the score at 1-1.
“It was a tough game,” Todryk said. “We got the PK, and gave it right back, but regrouped. In the second half, we outplayed them and started passing the ball more rather than hanging on to it.”
Marshfield controlled the first 10 minutes of the first half, repeatedly pushing the ball into Shawano territory. Gilbert connected from 30 yards out on a ball that was deflected by Hawks’ goalkeeper Michael Meisner but slid past him, putting the Tigers up 2-1.
From there, it was a struggle for both teams. Shawano had four shots on goal that were all turned away by Brown. The senior was on edge in the final minutes as the Hawks surrounded the goal to try to tie the game, but he and the Marshfield defense did enough to keep the ball out of the net.
“The communication on the field was good,” Brown said. “We’ve had really good chemistry this year. We’ve been creating a lot of scoring opportunities and the defense has been holding up fabulously.”
Tigers 2, Hawks 1
Shawano 1 0 – 1
Marshfield 1 1 – 2
First half: 1. M, Austin Gilbert (penalty kick), 30:53; 2. S, Garret Schlise (PK), 33:07.
Second half: 3. M, Gilbert (Matt McCann), 50:06.
Saves: S, Michael Meisner 7; M, Matt Brown 9.
Corner kicks: Shawano 5; Marshfield 9.
Records: Shawano 13-5-1; Marshfield 18-4-2.