Tigers end season 12-8-4

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

WAUSAU — The Marshfield boys soccer team trailed New Richmond by a goal with less than 10 minutes to go and had to gamble.

Marshfield had to push up their defense to give them a chance to tie it, but the Tigers came up short.

New Richmond scored twice in the final 3½ minutes to finish off a 4-1 win in a WIAA Division 2 sectional final Saturday afternoon at Wausau East High School.

New Richmond (19-4-1) moves on to the WIAA State Boys Soccer Tournament for the first time in program history and will play a Division 2 semifinal Friday afternoon against Elkhorn (19-3-2).

Marshfield ends the season with a 12-8-4 record after finishing strong, going 10-4-4 since early September.

“I’m proud of the boys,” Marshfield coach Steve McCann said. “I’m going to really miss our senior class: 14 great student-athletes. It was a really fun season, lots of great memories that will last for a lifetime.”

Croix Hare scored in the 27th minute to put New Richmond up 1-0 and that lead held until halftime.

Adam Schoepke added another for New Richmond on a penalty kick at the 64:49 mark, but Marshfield responded quickly.

Klaus Friedli scored 1:15 later to make it close again, but Marshfield could not muster another goal against a New Richmond team that had 14-straight shutouts prior to Saturday.

Sean Flandrick and Zach Landt scored in the final 3:32 to finish off Marshfield.

“I asked the boys for three things: play well the first 20 minutes, to score a goal, and to win,” McCann said. “We did start well and scored a goal but couldn’t pull out a win. We did create some great scoring chances and at times controlled the middle. The defense really limited their opportunities.”

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

New Richmond 4, Marshfield 1

New Richmond 1 3 – 4

Marshfield 0 1 – 1

First half: 1. NR, Croix Hare, 26:14.

Second half: 2. NR, Adam Schoepke (penalty kick), 64:49; 3. M, Klaus Friedli, 66:04; 4. NR, Sean Flandrick, 86:28; 5. NR, Zach Landt, 87:55.

Total shots: New Richmond 9; Marshfield 13

Shots on goal: New Richmond 8; Marshfield 6.

Corner kicks: New Richmond 4; Marshfield 3.

Saves: NR, 5; M, Jared Klein 4.

Records: New Richmond 19-4-1; Marshfield 12-8-4.