Peshtigo Plays to a Draw With Three Lakes/Phelps

Peshtigo played to a 2-2 draw with Three Lakes/Phelps on Monday.

Christian Boyle scored the Bulldogs’ first goal, but Three Lakes/Phelps scored several minutes later to take a 1-1 tie into the half, then scored first in the second period to take the lead.

It took until there was just six minutes left in the game for Peshtigo to even things at two apiece, doing so when John Conn assisted Mauz Salem’s goal.

“We had several opportunities to get the go-ahead goal, just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net,” Peshtigo coach Joe Denny said. “We need to put more shots on goal and we need to stop turning the ball over in the attacking half. We had several great runs getting to their net just to turn the ball over. We struggle to get the shots off – too much dribbling, not enough shooting.”

 

Bulldogs Lost to Clippers 

on Late Second Half Goals

For as long as the Peshtigo Bulldogs soccer team has been around, the Sturgeon Bay Clippers have been one of the best teams in the state, and a challenge the Bulldogs have yet to conquer, though they came close on Thursday.

A regional and state soccer powerhouse, Sturgeon Bay is currently ranked No. 4 in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association rankings for Division 4. 

In 2014, Sturgeon Bay defeated Peshtigo 5-1 in the second round of regionals after Peshtigo won its first playoff game in program history in the prior round.

Since then, the Clippers have been to state five times, winning two championships and knocking Peshtigo out of the playoffs twice more.

The Bulldogs entered Thursday with an 0-10 record against Sturgeon Bay since 2014, and had their chance to end that drought in the middle of the second half.

Peshtigo and Sturgeon Bay were knotted at zero for the first 60 minutes of the game, with minimal shots on goal from either side. With 29:27 to play in the game, Peshtigo got its shot, a penalty kick opportunity to take a 1-0 lead.

Sturgeon Bay goalkeeper Johnathan Wind made the save diving left to deny Johnny Conn, however, keeping the game tied.

That saved penalty changed the game, Peshtigo coach Joe Denny said. Not only did it keep the game tied, but the Bulldogs started to play more long balls down the field, giving the ball back to Sturgeon Bay and wearing out their own defense.

“You could see kind of the momentum shift after we missed the PK. Now it was getting into desperation for both teams, and we were playing a lot of long balls, trying to get things to work. We just wore out,” Denny said. “You can only hold a team off for so long, and when you’ve got four guys working harder than the other seven on the field, it’s difficult.”

Peshtigo goalkeeper Mason Denny made a big one-handed save with 17 minutes to play, but with 5:25 to play, the seal finally broke on his clean sheet when Benjamin Luders scored on a breakaway. In the next three minutes, the Clippers scored two more goals, winning 3-0.

“I thought our defense played a heck of a game. My left and right d-backs, they do an amazing job. They’re hustling to the ball. We didn’t give up much to the outside. In that first half, we didn’t give up much through the middle. We were playing positioning, we were there, we just couldn’t put it together,” coach Denny said. “We can’t put it in the net or get it up the field half the time. We get off of our game, play kickball, just stuff that, fundamentally, we work on every day is not being transferred to our field of play.”

 

Marines Dominate 

Foxes on the Road 7-1

Marinette defeated Fox Valley Lutheran on Tuesday, 7-1.

Dominic Smerchek scored twice, Noah Cegelski had a hattrick, Ayden Blystone had a goal and an assist and Keegan Polomis provided four assists and scored a goal of his own.

 

Marines Grab Two Wins

at Wrightstown Invite

The Marinette Marines boys soccer team went two and one at the Wrightstown Invite tournament on Saturday.

Marinette opened with a 4-2 win over Kewaunee, with two goals from Ayden Blystone and one each from Brady Golueke and Dominic Smerchek. Smerchek also provided two assists, while Owen Hansen and Alex Crossman had one apiece.

In game two, Marinette and Gibraltar finished regulation in a 1-1 draw, going to shootout to decide the winner, where the Vikings were victorious.

Keegan Polomis scored Marinette’s goal in regulation, assisted by Smerchek.

In game three, Marinette topped Wrightstown 1-0 on an unassisted goal by Blystone.