Tigers play New Richmond on Saturday in sectional final

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

ASHWAUBENON — The Marshfield boys soccer team survived overtime and a shootout to upset No. 1 seed Ashwaubenon in a WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal Thursday night at Cornerstone Athletic Complex.

Hunter McManus scored Marshfield’s only goal as the game was tied 1-1 after regulation and two overtime periods before heading to a shootout.

Ashwaubenon (16-5-3) missed high on its first attempt, and Alec Hinson connected for Marshfield (12-7-4). Ethan Leischow, Luke McCann, and Collin Nikolai added goals in the shootout for the Tigers, and goalkeeper Matt Pahl saved Ashwaubenon’s fourth attempt to clinch the win.

“The guys showed a lot of heart after being down 1-0 and struggling early,” Marshfield coach Steve McCann said. “As the game went on, we got stronger and stronger. We had some tremendous opportunities to score late in the game.”

Marshfield will take on New Richmond (18-4-1) in a Division 1 sectional final at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wausau East. The winner moves on to the 2016 WIAA State Boys Soccer Tournament at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee on Nov. 3-5. Marshfield’s only state tournament appearance came in 2013.

Pahl replaced goalkeeper Jared Klein for the penalty kick round and came up with the game’s biggest save.

“I’m really happy Matt Pahl could come in and make the winning save,” Steve McCann said. “He works so hard in practice and has been lights out in practice as we have been practicing PKs. That was our plan going in, and Matt delivered — couldn’t happen to a better kid.”

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

Tigers 1, Jaguars 1 (2 OT)

Marshfield 0 1 0 0 – 1

Ashwaubenon 1 0 0 0 – 1

Marshfield won shootout 4-2.

First half: 1. A, Santi Yrayzoz (Matt Durbin), 22:15.

Second half: 2. M, Hunter McManus, 58:30.

Shootout: Marshfield goals – Alec Hinson, Collin Nikolai, Luke McCann, Ethan Leischow.

Total shots: Marshfield 22; Ashwaubenon 7.

Shots on goal: Marshfield 10; Ashwaubenon 3.

Corner kicks: Marshfield 9; Ashwaubenon 6.

Saves: M, Jared Klein 2, Matthew Pahl 1. A, Anthony Perdue 9.

Records: Ashwaubenon 16-5-3; Marshfield 12-7-4.