Forest Park had unfinished business to take care of Wednesday evening. Their regular season match at Northeast Dubois ended at halftime due to a light malfunction. So the Rangers suited up in their all-white uniforms and took to the pitch. The 1A regional semifinal match would prove to be a memorable one.
For the first half hour, neither team managed to execute. However the Rangers were quickly heating up, putting several shots just wide and over the goal. With less than ten minutes remaining in the first half, Forest Park's offense started to produce. Gabe Schemenauer collected a pass wide before he connected with Gus Hagedorn. Hagedorn mishandled his first touch, but he stayed with it and delivered a beautiful, left-footed volley over the goalkeeper and into the net. His teammates both on and off the pitch erupted in cheer as the improvised shot caught everyone off-guard. Just one minute after the ensuing kickoff, the Rangers capitalized again. On a swift counter attack, Luke Hagedorn played a pass through the defense to Gus Hagedorn, who saved the ball from exiting over the endline. Gus then turned and fired a pass across the box to Noah Muller. Muller calmly redirected the ball into the far-side netting to give the Rangers the two-goal lead going into halftime. Reece Wolf and Leo Widolff worked to clean up much of the midfield play and allowed Forest Park to transition quickly into its attack.
The second half resumed and Forest Park continued to press ahead. Freshmen Gabe Schemenauer and Luke Meunier, both getting the nod to start for the Rangers, offered excellent wing-play throughout the course of the match. As the Rangers moved the ball in the attacking third, Gus stepped in front of a Jeep defender to prevent a clearance. He then played a pass back to Muller who looked up and connected a pass ahead to Luke Hagedorn. Luke tracked down the ball and squeezed a hard shot between the goalkeeper and the near post to record his first goal in three matches. The three-goal lead was what the Ranger squad aimed for, and it allowed them some breathing room. Carter Giesler, Owen Boeglin, Tanner Englert and Issac Mohr locked down the Jeeps' offense, and anything extra was smothered by Ranger goalkeeper Charlie Hasenour. The final whistle confirmed the Ranger's third shutout of the postseason.
Forest Park will host Southwestern at home on Saturday for the Regional Championship. Kickoff is slated for 2:00pm.
Goals: Gus Hagedorn, Noah Muller, Luke Hagedorn
Assists: Gabe Schemenauer, Gus Hagedorn, Noah Muller
For the first half hour, neither team managed to execute. However the Rangers were quickly heating up, putting several shots just wide and over the goal. With less than ten minutes remaining in the first half, Forest Park's offense started to produce. Gabe Schemenauer collected a pass wide before he connected with Gus Hagedorn. Hagedorn mishandled his first touch, but he stayed with it and delivered a beautiful, left-footed volley over the goalkeeper and into the net. His teammates both on and off the pitch erupted in cheer as the improvised shot caught everyone off-guard. Just one minute after the ensuing kickoff, the Rangers capitalized again. On a swift counter attack, Luke Hagedorn played a pass through the defense to Gus Hagedorn, who saved the ball from exiting over the endline. Gus then turned and fired a pass across the box to Noah Muller. Muller calmly redirected the ball into the far-side netting to give the Rangers the two-goal lead going into halftime. Reece Wolf and Leo Widolff worked to clean up much of the midfield play and allowed Forest Park to transition quickly into its attack.
The second half resumed and Forest Park continued to press ahead. Freshmen Gabe Schemenauer and Luke Meunier, both getting the nod to start for the Rangers, offered excellent wing-play throughout the course of the match. As the Rangers moved the ball in the attacking third, Gus stepped in front of a Jeep defender to prevent a clearance. He then played a pass back to Muller who looked up and connected a pass ahead to Luke Hagedorn. Luke tracked down the ball and squeezed a hard shot between the goalkeeper and the near post to record his first goal in three matches. The three-goal lead was what the Ranger squad aimed for, and it allowed them some breathing room. Carter Giesler, Owen Boeglin, Tanner Englert and Issac Mohr locked down the Jeeps' offense, and anything extra was smothered by Ranger goalkeeper Charlie Hasenour. The final whistle confirmed the Ranger's third shutout of the postseason.
Forest Park will host Southwestern at home on Saturday for the Regional Championship. Kickoff is slated for 2:00pm.
Goals: Gus Hagedorn, Noah Muller, Luke Hagedorn
Assists: Gabe Schemenauer, Gus Hagedorn, Noah Muller