Rhinelander Edges Northland Pines in Shootout

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Rhinelander Edges Northland Pines in Shootout

JV Pines 1 Rhinelander 1

Varsity Pines 1 Rhinelander 1
Shootout for the extra conference point
Pines 1 Rhinelander 3
Well these senior girls knew they were facing their arch nemesis as they have lost to Rhinelander their whole career.  They wanted this one.  I told them that if we win the midfield we can win the game.  I think we won the midfield possession.  18 minutes into the game Grace Plank passed the ball to fellow midfielder Ryyn Darr who played a nice through ball between the Hodags defenders and Zoe Anderson was shot out like a cannon taking the ball to the right side of the goal and cut the ball back letting the defender fly by shooting it short side of the keeper Pines 1-0.  That woke up the Hodags and they pushed but the Pines girls remained composed and held the lead into half.  I reminded the girls that mental forces is key and our season has been defined by 1-2 minutes of mental breakdowns that cost us games.  Hodags came out second half full throttle and pushed and Bates changed their secondary attack and confused our girls and a ball got across the goal mouth to a crashing winger notching the game at 1.  Again here are the little things that have cost us goals. This started on a failed mark on a throw in that allowed the Hodags to drive the goal line and getting the cross.  If we fix this the ball stays wide and.most times.goes the other way.  The battle was back and forth and late in the half Zoe Anderson twisted up two of the Hodags defenders taking a left footed shot hitting the post. Our crashing Olivia Eliason was there to finished and it rolled off her foot just wide.  Our girls left.it all on the field and deserved to win.  GNC gives the extra point to the winner of the shootout.  I told the girls to shoot low corners on this keeper.  Rhinelander first shooter drilled it right top corner. Zoe Anderson leaned back and pulled the ball high left sailing wide and Pines was chasing.  They duplicated their second shot. Grace Plank struggled early in the season but executed a hard low left corner.  Izzy Chuckel dove to keep Pines alive with the save.  Sydney Sarkaukas drilled a hard low left corner the skipped just wide. Rhinelander’ found the right corner again and Sarah Nagel pushed the ball high right and Pines comes.jp short on the shootout 1-3.
Goes down as a tie in the WIAA and GNC.
Shot Pines 9 Hodags 15
Shots in goal Pines 6 Hodags 10
Corners 3 Pines Hodags 6
Fouls Pines 6 Hodags 5
Pk Pines 3 attempts 1 goal
Hodags 4 attempts 3 gosls

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David Keech
Author: David Keech

David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]