Hodag Highlights: Soccer rolls to two wins, outshoots opponents combining for 78 shots on the week

The Rhinelander High School girls soccer team had a dominant week on their home pitch, shutting out Merrill 6-0 on Tuesday before holding off Northland Pines 3-1 on Thursday. The Hodags outshot their two opponents a combined 78-6 over the two matches.
Hodags 6, Merrill 0
Merrill made its Great Northern Conference debut Tuesday night in Rhinelander, and the Hodags wasted little time making them feel unwelcome.
Despite controlling the bulk of the action — outshooting the Bluejays a staggering 45-3 — Rhinelander found the net just twice in the first half. The scoring opened in the 23rd minute when Ella Miljevich connected on a goal off an assist from Vivian Lamers. Before the half ended, the duo reversed roles, with Miljevich setting up Lamers to push the lead to 2-0 at the break.
The floodgates opened in the second half. Miljevich added another goal of her own, and Gabby Wanta got on the scoresheet as well. Lamers saved her best for last, netting two second-half goals to complete a dominant performance. Her final tally came in the 80th minute on a penalty kick after a foul inside the box, capping the 6-0 Hodag victory.

Lamers finished with three goals and an assist on the night, while Miljevich tallied two goals and an assist.
Hodags 3, Northland Pines 1
Thursday’s home match against Northland Pines followed a familiar script — the Hodags controlling possession deep in their opponent’s end — but Pines made things briefly interesting before Rhinelander pulled away.
Ella Heck and Kiley Pooch each found the back of the net to give the Hodags a 2-0 cushion heading into the second half. Pines pulled one back with a shot that slipped just under the crossbar and beyond the reach of Hodag goalkeeper Rylee Mickevicius, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
It would be the only shot Pines managed on goal all game. Miljevich answered quickly, scoring in the 60th minute to restore the Hodags’ two-goal advantage and effectively seal the result at 3-1. Rhinelander finished with 33 shots to Pines’ three.