Dons allow season-high seven goals in playoff loss

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MARSHFIELD — The Marshfield Columbus Catholic soccer team had given up only 10 goals the entire season in piling up a 20-2 record on its way to the sectionals.

However, the Dons’ defense had no answer for a potent Arcadia offense on Thursday.

Luis Zaragoza used an array of quick offensive moves to score five times to lift the Raiders to a 7-5 victory over Columbus Catholic in a wild WIAA Division 4 boys soccer sectional semifinal at Griese Park.

Arcadia advances to a sectional final against Phillips (16-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cumberland. Columbus finishes an impressive season with a 20-3 record.

“I’m absolutely shocked with gave up seven goals in this game and had only given up 10 all season,” Columbus Catholic coach Jeff Edwards said. “We got down early, we had to adjust, we had to push up, and then got caught again. It’s very frustrating.”

Arcadia pulled out to a 4-1 lead behind Zaragoza, who hit for a hat trick in the first 41:05.

Tyler Fuerlinger scored his second goal of the game with 1:49 to go before halftime to cut the deficit in half, and Nadim Torbey scored 7:38 into the second half to bring the Dons to within 4-3.

Zaragoza weaved through the Dons’ defense and scored again five minutes later, and from there the two teams exchanged goals.

Columbus came within one twice — on a penalty kick from Calvin Brown and again on Fuerlinger’s third goal that was a header off a crossing pass from Charles Payant — but Arcadia responded each time.

Zaragoza finished off the scoring with another nifty goal with 1:19 remaining for Arcadia.

The Raiders had only nine shots on goal, seven of which found the back of the net.

“We kept stabbing at the ball instead of trying to contain him (Zaragoza),” Edwards said. “We talked about it at halftime and adjusted well, but when you are down two, we’re all pushed up. Their offense was kicking it deep and him running. He had a number of opportunities because we were pushed so much to equalize, and we got caught.”

Fuerlinger, Payant, Ryan Dieringer, Tim Gruenloh, and goalkeeper Bailey Keffer played their final games for the Dons as seniors. That group completed one of, if not the best, four-year stretch of Columbus Catholic soccer ever, and leaves a lasting impression on the rest of the team.

“Ending the season in this game was not what we expected, but these kids played their hearts out today and played their hearts out all season,” Edwards said. “They won a lot of games, two conference championships, four regional championships. I’m very proud of all of these seniors. That reflects on the rest of the team, and they know what the expectation level is, and we’ll continue our run.

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

Raiders 7, Dons 5

Arcadia 4 3 – 7

Columbus Catholic 2 3 – 5

First half: 1. A, Luis Zaragoza, 16:07; 2. CC, Tyler Fuerlinger (Ryan Dieringer), 33:07; 3. A, Heriberto Padilla (Derek Sabillon), 33:46; 4. A, Zaragoza, 39:40; 5. A, Zaragoza (Sabillon), 41:05; 6. CC, Fuerlinger, 43:11.

Second half: 7. CC, Nadim Torbey (Nick Malovrh), 52:38; 8. A, Zaragoza, 57:30; 9. C, Calvin Brown (penalty kick), 62:38; 10. A, Sabillon, 81:21; 11. CC, Fuerlinger (Charles Payant), 85:21; 12. A, Zaragoza, 88:41.

Total shots: Arcadia 10; Columbus Catholic 25.

Shots on goal: Arcadia 7; Columbus Catholic 9.

Corner kicks: Arcadia 1; Columbus Catholic 3.

Saves: A, Angel Anaya 4; CC, Bailey Keffer 2.

Records: Arcadia not reported; Columbus Catholic 20-3.