MEDFORD BOYS SOCCER PREVIEW - More goals is the Raiders’ goal as they put 2024 behind them

The start of a new season couldn’t come fast enough for Medford’s boys soccer team, who is determined to show that 2024 was an aberration.

While relatively inexperienced, a onewin season was the last thing the Raiders expected last fall when they wound up 113-3. The Raiders were in the majority of games and, for the most part, were solid defensively. But they struggled to put the ball in the net, scoring just 12 goals in 17 games and only five goals in Great Northern Conference play, where the Raiders finished 0-8-2.

For those who are back this fall, including six seniors and third-year head coach Adam Derr, nothing would mean more than to bring the positive vibes back.

“We expected better (last year) than the year before and that didn’t happen,” senior co-captain Ethan Emmerich said.

“I don’t know about everybody else, but I can say it wasn’t fun to lose like that almost week in, week out,” said Lucas Mahner, another co-captain. “I just hope we can all work together as a team, win games and play our best. If we just play our best, I think we’ll have the best chance.”

Medford opened the season Tuesday with a 5-0 loss to Rice Lake at Raider Field. The Raiders head to New London tonight, Thursday, for a 6:30 p.m. non-conference kickoff against the Bulldogs. They then jump right into GNC play next week, hosting conference newcomer Merrill and Northland Pines on Tuesday and Thursday, both at 7 p.m.

Medford’s senior class includes Nathan Schuld, a co-captain for the second straight year, Keagan Gehrke, Keegan Neitzel and Oliver Koffler, all of whom have played a lot in the past and will play significant roles in the team’s success this fall.

The captains said the chemistry is building with the younger classes, particularly the sophomores, who still make up the bulk of the roster with 10 of them appearing on the varsity list. There are just two juniors, Luke Semrau and Marshall Buechel.

With six freshmen, the program stands at 24 players, which puts things pretty thin and will require some players to put in time at both the varsity and JV levels. But Derr said the Raiders aim to be smarter about how they do that this year. Derr said last year the team got caught with several of the freshmen who played significant varsity minutes also playing the majority of the JV games as well. “When it got to the end of the varsity games, I think our guys were pretty wiped,” Derr said. “That’s one of the reasons we’re carrying more guys on the varsity squad (20). We’re going to try to balance out some of our minutes in the JV games so that we’re not tiring out at the end of games like we were last year. Hopefully that will lead to stronger finishes and, hopefully, a couple more wins.” Medford allowed an average of 2.3 goals per game last year, a number that was upped by two games of five goals. Otherwise every game was three goals or less. The Raiders pitched 90-minute shutouts against GNC rivals Rhinelander early in the season and top-seeded Lakeland in a WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal. The Rhinelander game ended with Medford winning a GNC shootout after an 0-0 tie. Lakeland eventually scored twice in overtime to win the playoff game.

This year’s back end has an important new face in sophomore Eric Paul, who takes over as the goal keeper for the graduated Cale Schulz. In Medford’s annual alumni game Saturday, which the Raiders lost 3-0, Paul was one of the varsity’s standouts.

“Eric was amazing during the alumni game to say the least,” Mahner said. “He was making beautiful diving saves. They’d get a power shot in and he’d make his best attempt no matter where it was. It was amazing.”

“I can honestly say that’s the best performance I’ve seen him have to this point and I know he’s going to keep getting better,” Schuld said.

“He showed his brilliance and what we can do on the field as far as being a shot stopper during the alumni game,” Derr said. “The game was still a little bit fast for him I think, but he made some amazing saves. Once he gets more comfortable he’s going to be tough to get it past.”

The planned starters in front of Paul include Mahner, Semrau and sophomores Levi Zuleger and Colton Long. Sophomore Gavin Koplin has also forced his way into the rotation with a marked improvement over his play with the JV last year.

Schuld was the anchor of that line, but Medford has moved him up to the offensive front of their formation as a wing, hoping to add some scoring punch.

“We saw what Northland Pines did last year when they took their all-conference center defender (Offensive Player of the Year Cody Vojta) and put him up as a striker,” Derr said. “With Nate’s strength and his speed and the fact that we struggled with goals last season, we’re going to see what he can do up front because he is so strong and so fast and has a really good shot.”

“I haven’t played offense for a few years now,” he said. “That’s where I used to be. That’s where I personally prefer to be. If we need to make a switch then we’ll make a switch. But we’re going to see how it goes without me in the back this year.”

Koffler will be the other starting wing while Emmerich hopes to make things happen in the middle. Freshman Carter Ziehlke and Neitzel are in the offensive mix too.

“We have one of our more creative players on the field, Oliver Koffler, on the other side,” Derr said. “Ethan Emmerich seems to be a Johnny-on-the-spot. He’s always in a position to affect a play or potentially be in a position to score a goal. It’s going to take a little bit for those guys to jell but they’re all guys who have played together, maybe not in those same positions. Once they get comfortable, hopefully the goals start coming.”

Derr said another way the team hopes to spark the offense is emphasizing transition.

“I think one of our issues last year was once we got the ball up front, it was one or two guys and they were very isolated,” Derr said. “We’re really working on transition this year and getting the whole team to support so we have potentially more options and better opportunities.”

Possessing and controlling the ball in the midfield area also could help spring some scoring opportunities. The Raiders like what they have there in sophomores Beck Mayrer and Judah Wipf, who played a lot last year. Sophomore Ethan Jones will get more consistent varsity minutes with that group and Derr said Gehrke will be a key part of that group too.

“We’re looking to shoot more often, looking for shots right away, getting quick passes and then whenever the goal is open, take the shot,” Emmerich said. “We didn’t do that at all last year.”

“We’d try to wait for the perfect shot, but how often are you going to get a perfect shot?” Mahner said.

Lakeland is the defending GNC champion, having won last year’s title by a point over Northland Pines. Mosinee held a one-point edge over Rhinelander for third place. Medford tied Rhinelander twice and had Mosinee beaten late in the year before the Indians went on a stunning three-goal rally in the last 15 minutes. Antigo had become a thorn in Medford’s side until the Raiders handled the Red Robins 4-1 in the first round of the WIAA tourney.

“I like the way our schedule starts out,” Derr said. “I think Rice Lake and New London will be good tests and then we jump right into the conference. Hopefully we can get some wins under our belt early on. The back end of the first part of the season is Rhinelander, Lakeland and Mosinee. Those were toward the top three last year. We get to build up to those teams and hopefully improve and be ready to take them on when we get to play them.”

The players have come up with a 2025 motto of “Don’t Sleep on Medford.”

“Just end on a high note. That’s what we’re looking at,” Emmerich said.

“We’re going to prove people wrong,” Mahner said. “We’re going to pack a punch.”