By Greg Bates
DAILY NEWS SPORTS EDITOR

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Redemption is what they sought, and redemption is exactly what they got.

After falling to Marshfield in the sectional semifinals last season, the Rhinelander boys’ soccer team wanted to avenge a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in which the Tigers scored the game-winning goal with 45 seconds remaining.

On Thursday, the Hodags used a Brenan Millot goal at 15:32 of the first half and sound defense to thwart the top-seeded Tigers as the Hodags, the No. 3 seed scored a 1-0 win in a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal at Griese Park in Marshfield.

“It’s kind of like a little revenge ’cause they scored in like the last minute last time, so just winning this one just makes it that much better,” Millot said.

For the third straight postseason game, it was the Hodags’ defense that made the difference. The team has now allowed just one goal against three Wisconsin Valley Conference teams.

Hodags sophomore goalkeeper Collin Smith, who tallied four saves, wasn’t challenged too much by Marshfield, mainly because the Hodags’ team defensive philosophy shut down the Tigers attackers.

“My defense did just a spectacular job,” Smith said. “They had a few good shots on me, and the other ones my defense was able to shut them down before they were able to get the shots off.”

The Hodags, who finished 2-0-1 against the Tigers this season, pride themselves on air-tight defense after leading the Valley in the regular season in goals against per game.

“Teams know that it’s hard to score against us, and usually when people score against us it’s because we make mistakes,” Rhinelander coach Dan Millot said. “Today we didn’t make mistakes –– we bent but we did not break.”

Marshfield –– which finished up 15-11-1 on the season and went 8-2-1 in its final 11 games –– knew how to attack the Hodags’ stonewall defense, but didn’t followed through on their plan.

“We needed to spread the field out, which we tried, work it around the back side and bring back,” first-year Marshfield coach Ron Todryk said.

Despite not registering a first-half shot on goal, Todryk thought his team created some pressure early on, but his players got tired running into the wind.

The lone goal of the game came at 15:32 of the first half when a clearing pass caught the foot of Rhinelander defender Adam Schneider, who fed Millot a perfect pass.

“It was 1-v-1 versus the keeper, and you’re not going to stop too many of those,” coach Millot said.

The goal essentially took the wind out of Marshfield’s said, Todryk said.

After the goal, the Hodags’ defense took over.

“That eased the defense a little bit, they didn’t have to do everything the whole game,” Brenan Millot said.

Near the end of the second half, Marshfield’s offense tried to put the heat on the Hodags’ defense and Smith.

Smith knew he might have to make a game-changing save in the waning moments to secure the victory, and he was anxious for clock to keep ticking.

“I was looking over my shoulder (at the game clock) pretty much every 10 seconds,” Smith said. “I was just waiting for the time to go away.”

The Hodags now will face Eau Claire Memorial, which beat Hudson 1-0 in the other sectional semifinal. The two teams will face off Saturday at Wausau West at 1 p.m.

Coach Millot was happy his kids will have a shot at state in Milwaukee.

“It’s fantastic for this group of kids –– they’re a wonderful group of kids,” he said. “It’s been a few years since we’ve has this opportunity for a chance to play to get down there.”

Until then, though, Brenan Millot and his teammates are going to savor the victory over Marshfield. Both teams are filled with players who know each other well and are friends off the field.

“It’s definitely going to be nice to talk to them about this,” Brenan Millot said.

Is Millot going to be able to do a little friendly trashtalking in the offseason?

“Just a little bit,” said Millot with a smile.

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