Hodag Highlights: Soccer goes 3-0 in grueling stretch

The Rhinelander High School girls soccer team navigated one of the toughest stretches of their season last week, playing three games in five days as part of a demanding seven-games-in-nine-days run. The Hodags came away with three wins to close the week.
The Hodags opened the week on the road at Medford and left with a confident 4-1 victory. Vivian Lamers led the attack with two goals, one of them coming from the penalty spot, while Jordan Manske and Gabby Wanta each added a goal of their own to round out the scoring. The win was a strong statement performance away from home and set the tone for the week ahead.
If Tuesday was impressive, Thursday was dominant. Rhinelander traveled to Mosinee and delivered a commanding 6-0 shutout, outshooting the host Thunderbirds by a staggering 38-0 margin — a number that speaks to the Hodags’ total control of the match from whistle to whistle.
Lamers, Kenzie Paulson and Wanta each found the back of the net, and Rhinelander converted all three of their penalty kicks on the night — Lamers burying one and Ella Miljevich converting two.
The lone home game of the entire seven-game stretch proved to be the most challening. Facing Hayward, the Hodags controlled possession and kept the play on the Hurricanes’ side of the field for the majority of the match. Lamers struck early, finding the net in the seventh minute for what would be the only goal of the game. The Hodags return to action Tuesday with a road trip to Northland Pines.