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Record-setting offense in soccer opener

Record-setting offense in soccer opener Record-setting offense in soccer opener

MEDFORD 10, ANTIGO 0

The Medford Raiders got the girls soccer season off to an explosive start Tuesday, getting a school-record six goals from senior Jasmine Wiitala and tying the school record for team goals in a 10-0 win at Antigo.

The Raiders ended the game via the 10-goal mercy rule with 26 minutes remaining when Wiitala capped her historic night with her final goal.

“Once she got the ball that last time, you could see it in her eyes that there was no way they could stop her,” Medford head coach Tanya Tessmann said. “It was just her and the goalie and you knew that was going to be the game.”

It was just the second time since Medford established its varsity program in the spring of 2010 that the Raiders had hit the 10-goal mark. They blanked Phillips 10-0 on April 8, 2019. Gabby Brunner had a hat trick in that game and the junior had two goals in Tuesday’s win.

Tessmann, who earned her first win at the helm, said the game provided a great opportunity to have success while also stress some teaching points before a showdown tonight, Thursday, with 2019 GNC and WIAA Division 3 sectional champion Ashland at Raider Field. The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

“We had over 20 shots and eight different players took shots, so that was pretty good,” Tessmann said. “We started off a little slow. It took us a little to get going. We were working on our positioning and learning how to use the space and not be on top of one another. We improved on that as the game went on.”

Wiitala scored the game’s first three goals. Brunner got her first one to make it 4-0. That was followed by Wiitala’s fourth goal and the first goal of the season by Lydia Pernsteiner just before the half, which came off an assist by junior Emma Eckert, one of three JV players –– including Maddie Eckert and Emma Wegerer –– who got varsity playing time in the win. Senior Olivia Felix took a penalty kick in the half, but that was stopped by Antigo’s goal keeper.

Brunner, Wiitala and wing Autumn Krause scored goals in the second half before Wiitala’s final goal ended it.

Defensively the Raiders weren’t challenged much. Freshman goalie Sophia Brunner touched the ball only once, Tessmann said, and that wasn’t even on a shot by Antigo.

“Our freshmen did well,” Tessmann said. “Kelsey Jascor, our first-year junior played well. Kayla Szydel showed us some good things. We saw some really good passes from her.”

The first week-plus of the season also is one of the busiest for Medford. The Raiders have added a trip to Lakeland for a four-team event on Saturday. They are scheduled to play Marquette, Mich. at 1 p.m. and Hayward at 3 p.m.

Medford hosts Amherst/Iola-Scandinavia Monday at 7 p.m. in non-conference play before returning to Lakeland Tuesday to face the Thunderbirds in a key GNC contest that will be played under the lights at 7 p.m.

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