By Paul Lecker
For focusonmarshfield.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Columbus Catholic soccer team dominated play early, controlling the ball in La Crosse Aquinas territory most of the first half, and scored five first-half goals on its way to a 7-0 romp of the Blugolds in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal Thursday at Griese Park.
Columbus Catholic (14-4-1) moves on to a D-4 regional final at 1 p.m. Saturday at Griese Park against Central Wisconsin Conference rival Wisconsin Valley Lutheran (4-11-2). The Dons swept the season series, winning 4-0 and 7-0. Aquinas finishes its season with a 3-14 record.
Nadim Torbey scored the first of his four goals just 1:37 into the contest and the Dons were off and running.
“It seems like we play them (Aquinas) every playoffs, somehow we’re always seeded against them, and I don’t ever believe their record,” Columbus Catholic coach Jeff Edwards said. “They play tough schools in their conference and I thought they were under-seeded as an eight-seed. We had to mentally prepare today and I was glad we got that goal right off the bat and kind of eased everyone’s nerves a bit.”
Zach Olson, Torbey, Evan Dieringer and Dylan Porter each added goals before halftime, Porter’s coming with just 49 seconds to go before intermission.
Torbey had two more goals in the second half to finish off the win.
Kellen Heinzen needed to make just three saves in goal for Columbus, which outshot the Blugolds 24-5 overall.
“I think this team, the beginning of the year until now, we’re on a nice push to end the year,” Edwards said. “Everyone is peaking right now, which is exactly what we want. Our defense is playing good, the underclassmen that are in there and really playing well and they’re not too scared. It’s been really great to see these guys develop as a team and come together right now.”
Dons 7, Blugolds 0
Aquinas 0 0 – 0
Columbus Catholic 5 2 – 7
First half: 1. CC, Nadim Torbey (Zach Olson), 1:37; 2. CC, Olson, 18:11; 3. CC, Torbey (Dylan Porter), 21:02; 4. CC, Evan Dieringer (penalty kick), 28:08; 5. CC, Porter (Olson), 44:11.
Second half: 6. CC, Torbey (Olson), 52:50; 7. CC, Torbey (Kellen Delaney), 86:05.
Total shots: Aquinas 5; Columbus Catholic 24.
Shots on goal: Aquinas 3; Columbus Catholic 16.
Corner kicks: Aquinas 2; Columbus Catholic 11.
Saves: CC, Kellen Heinzen 3.
Records: Aquinas 3-14; Columbus Catholic 14-4-1.
Paul Lecker is publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com and a contributor to focusonmarshfield.com.
Author: News Desk
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