Eagles end regular season, prep for playoffs as top seed

The Northland Pines boys’ soccer team finished a productive season, wrapping up the regular season with the final two Great Northern Conference games against Rhinelander and Lakeland last week.

The Eagles had the No. 1 seed in hand for the WIAA D4 playoffs ahead of these two matchups, and preparations for the regional game began later this week.

Northland Pines hosted its final regular-season home game against Rhinelander last Tuesday in Eagle River, resulting in a 4-1 win over the Hodags. The team also celebrated the handful of senior players and managers for Senior Day as well. The Eagles wrapped up the regular season on the road at Lakeland on Oct. 15 ahead of the playoffs starting this Thursday, Oct. 22.

Coming into the final week of the regular season, Rhinelander was ready to give Northland Pines all it had for 80 minutes. More than three quarters of the game turned out that way, despite the home Eagles having many of the offensive chances.

An early first-half goal put Pines ahead 1-0, but Rhinelander stayed the course and came up with some big stops inside the 18-yard box throughout the remainder of the first half to keep the game at 1-0 by halftime.

The Eagles doubled the lead early in the second half after being given a penalty kick opportunity after junior Dechlan Favorite was tripped up by Rhinelander’s goalkeeper coming out to play a ball. Favorite took the penalty kick and made it 2-0. Shortly after, Rhinelander had a similar opportunity and converted on a PK to cut the deficit to 2-1. After about 15 minutes of tense, back-and-forth gameplay, Favorite scored his second of the night in the 70th minute on a nice move from the left wing and fired a shot near the top of the 18-yard box. The shot was initially saved but snuck over the goal line to extend the lead to 3-1.

Coach Remme said the team’s urgency to make adjustments in tight games and work as a team has helped them navigate second-half and late-game situations throughout the season.

“I think it really is just the boys continuing to work the process and trust one another. They continue to make adjustments as needed and work together as a team. They all understand they have a job to do, and they can rely on each other to get it done.”

Sophomore Simon Adamovich closed the scoring late in the game to clinch the 4-1 win.

Pines finished the night with 36 total shots, and goalkeeper Easton Otto made eight saves in the win.

The Eagles closed the regular season at Lakeland last Thursday and then started preparing for the playoffs this week. Pines was awarded the No. 1 seed and will wait to face the winner of No. 8 Regis or No. 9 Newman Catholic in the regional semifinal on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. If Northland Pines advances to the regional final, that game would be played against No. 5 Washburn or No. 4 Northland Lutheran in Eagle River on Saturday, Oct. 24.