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Three Key Moments put Mosinee Over Waupaca
The WIAA Playoffs brought Mosinee under the lights at Waupaca. Earlier in the season Waupaca had handed Mosinee a 4-0 loss. But with a Regional Title on the line, Mosinee came through with a 2-1victory, with three key plays looming large in the victory.
Nerves and an amped up crowd led to some uneven play to begin with by both sides. Through balls just slightly out of reach, defensive turns leading to corner kicks, and miscommunications all led to chances for both sides. Waupaca’s outstanding Bryce Bolt was a force to be reckoned with and eventually he broke through when a ball rebounded his way after a corner kick. From that moment forward, however, Mosinee’s Josh Ivey locked down Bolt, and he would not get another goal.
The first of the key moments would happen late in the half. A through ball had Mosinee’s Caden Schmirler sprinting for the equalizer. Waupaca’s center back and keeper charged, and a violent collision knocked all three players down, and out of the game! The play was correctly called as a no foul play, but all three players were done for the night due to the collision. The loss of the Waupaca keeper loomed large later in the game. The half closed with Waupaca up, 1-0.
Coming out of halftime, Mosinee knew that Waupaca was playing with a new keeper. The unsettled nature of the situation led to moment number two. Toren Holtz created an opportunity for himself and took a loose ball down the core of the Waupaca defense just 1” into the half and lit up the scoreboard for Mosinee. The momentum clearly had shifted to Mosinee and rattled the Waupaca defense. The chaotic moment yielded Toren a second breakaway, and goal, just 2” later! Mosinee had flipped the score and it was now 2-1 Mosinee in just 3 minutes of action.
The tension grew on the pitch, with the benches, spectators, and players shouting out and striving for every loose ball. Waupaca shored up their defense, and began probing the Mosinee side, knowing their season was on the line. Mosinee shifted to a slow-down style, bending but not breaking. The final key moment came with about 2” remaining. With Waupaca pushing up for the equalizer, Mosinee fouled Waupaca just outside the penalty area.
Mosinee was struggling to organize a wall and mark up the opposition, so Mosinee’s Garret Donohue stood over the ball to delay the game. Garret took a yellow card and was sent off for his actions, but the delay gave Mosinee the time it needed to organize, and the play yielded a harmless shot that Mosinee converted to a goal kick. The final minute of regulation was a flurry of action, but Mosinee kept the Comets out of the goal and advanced with a 2-1 victory.
This is Mosinee 4th Regional Title in the last 6 seasons. Mosinee advances to play Lakeland at Minocqua on Thursday, October 28, 7pm.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
