Marshfield girls soccer shuts out Rhinelander to win WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal

RHINELANDER – For the first time in program history, the Marshfield girls soccer team will be playing in a sectional final.

Marshfield, behind a hat trick from Nina Hashimoto, dominated Rhinelander with a 4-0 win in a WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal on Thursday at Rhinelander High School.

Marshfield (13-7-2) will play Onalaska (18-2-3) in the D-2 sectional final at 4 p.m. Saturday at Eau Claire Memorial, with a trip to the WIAA state tournament on the line.

“Rhinelander defeated us earlier in the season and we knew we did not play our best soccer up there at the time, but today the team really stepped up and played a super game,” Marshfield coach Steve Lindner said. “The team was incredibly focused before the game and you could feel the tension as we warmed up. Our passing has clicked most of the season after defeating Stevens Point and we have gone 7-1-1 since losing to Rhinelander earlier in the year. Again, the entire team has been the reason for the streak which is up to six games and three-straight shutouts.”

Hashimoto scored on an assist from Nicole Simon at the 12:02 mark to give Marshfield a quick 1-0 lead.

The lead held throughout the rest of the first half as Rhinelander missed on a penalty kick in the final minute.

Hashimoto added another goal on a Simon assist at the 72:32 mark, and Sophia Gruenling made it 3-0 with a goal nine minutes later.

Hashimoto finished off the scoring with a goal with 1:30 remaining, on an assist from Kate Schilling, to finish off the blowout.

Mikayla Brueggen had four saves in goal to preserve the shutout.

With the three goals, Hashimoto surpassed Darian Molter’s team records of 35 goals and 80 points in a season set in 2014. She now has 38 goals and 83 points.

Tigers 4, Hodags 0
Marshfield 1 3 – 4
Rhinelander 0 0 – 0
First half: 1. M, Nina Hashimoto (Nicole Simon), 12:02.
Second half: 2. M, Hashimoto (Simon), 72:32; 3. M, Sophia Gruenling, 8:18; 4. M, Hashimoto (Kate Schilling), 88:30.
Saves: R, Kahlie Anderson 8; M, Mikaya Brueggen 4.
Records: Marshfield 13-7-2; Rhinelander 11-5.