Collin Nikolai scores twice for Tigers

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MERRILL — Marshfield scored three goals in a 20-minute stretch of the second half to bust open a tie game and get past Merrill 5-2 in a Wisconsin Valley Conference boys soccer game Tuesday at the Merill Area Recreation Complex.

Noah Heegeman and Ethan Leischow scored for the Tigers in the first half before Merrill stormed back to tie the match on a pair of goals by Brian Root in the first 16 minutes of the second half.

Luke McCann broke the tie with a goal for the Tigers on an assist from Alec Hinson in the 67th minute, and Collin Nikolai added two goals in an eight-minute span to stretch out the lead.

“It was another game with multiple goals, but we need to work to do better defensively,” Marshfield coach Steve McCann said. “We saw glimpses of what the team is capable of but often only for short periods of time, i.e. good possession, inside out passing, give and go. Otherwise, the game filled with errors, but we were fortunate to come out with the win.”

McCann had a pair of assists, and Tyler Andres also had one for Marshfield (2-4-2, 2-2 Wisconsin Valley Conference).

Marshfield hosts first-place D.C. Everest at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Griese Park in a Wisconsin Valley Conference game.

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

Tigers 5, Bluejays 2

Marshfield 2 3 – 5

Merrill 0 2 – 2

First half: 1. MAR, Noah Heegeman (Tyler Andres), 3:47; 2. MAR, Ethan Leischow (Luke McCann), 43:02.

Second half: 3. MER, Brian Root (Zach Anderson), 56:32; 4. MER, Root (penalty kick), 60:57; 5. MAR, McCann (Alec Hinson), 66:48; 6. MAR, Collin Nikolai (McCann), 80:38; 7. MAR, Nikolai, 86:16.

Saves: MAR, Mathias Holm 4; MER, Trevor Asmudsen 9.

Records: Marshfield 2-4-2, 2-2 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Merrill 1-6, 0-4 WVC.