By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

WESTON – Marshfield charged out to a three-goal lead, then had to hold off a late comeback from D.C. Everest and beat the Evergreens 3-2 in a Wisconsin Valley Conference boys soccer game Tuesday at D.C. Everest Middle School.

Hunter McManus scored the only goal in the first half, putting Marshfield up 1-0.

Ryan Hayes and Thomas Kruger added goals in the second half to push the Tigers to a 3-0 advantage.

D.C. Everest mounted a comeback on goals from Chris Cornish and Colton Kellnhauser in the final 20 minutes, but Marshfield was able to hold on and kept its chances at a second-straight WVC title alive.

The Tigers are now 10-7-2 overall and 5-4-1 in the Valley. With 16 total points in conference play, Marshfield moves past D.C. Everest and Wausau West in the standings, with two games remaining. Marshfield hosts first-place Stevens Point next Tuesday and Wisconsin Rapids on Oct. 9 to finish its regular-season and WVC schedule.

Everest is now 5-6-4 overall and 4-2-3 in the conference.

“It was an outstanding first half of soccer with solid defense and a strong passing game,” Marshfield coach Steve McCann said. “We were able to capitalize on two free-kick opportunities in the second half, which ended up being the difference.”

Click here for the updated Wisconsin Valley Conference boys soccer standings

Tigers 3, Evergreens 2
Marshfield 1 2 – 3
D.C. Everest 0 2 – 2
First half: 1. M, Hunter McManus (Luke McCann), 23:10.
Second half: 2. M, Ryan Hayes, 48:32; 3. M, Thomas Kruger (Hayes), 66:20; 4. DC, Chris Cornish, 70:22; 5. DC, Colton Kellnhauser, 87:10.
Shots on goal: Marshfield 15; D.C. Everest 7.
Saves: M, Mathias Holm 5; DC, Alex Pagel 12.
Records: Marshfield 10-7-2, 5-4-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference; D.C. Everest 5-6-4, 4-2-3 Wisconsin Valley Conference.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of  MarshfieldAreaSports.com).