By Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
On Thursday afternoon the Merrill soccer team faced off against conference opponent Wausau East. Merrill would get on the board first, however could not hang on to their lead as East won by a score of 5-1.
In the fifth minute of game time Merrill’s Jordan Brzoznowski, sophomore forward, broke through the East defensive line and sprinted toward their goal, firing a low shot around their keeper that bounced off the inside of the near post, across the front of the goal where freshman forward Geno Zecca sprinted in to clean it up, giving Merrill the 1-0 lead. East would respond with a goal later in the first half, however the game would be a draw at the half with both teams scoring one goal.
The second half of play was all East as they got the 2-1 lead early, following a handball by the Jays. East wouldn’t look back from there.
“We had some defensive miscues that allowed for them to score three more times,” Merrill coach Erich Wallace explains. “Our only other real solid chance came when Hunter Wallace received a nice cross to his feet and took two nice touches past the East defenders to shoot on goal and put it just wide.
“It is always hard to lose,” Coach Wallace added, “but we are excited by the hunger that losing creates to put in our best work in practice and our three home games this week. We play West on Tuesday, Marshfield Thursday, and Pacelli on Saturday, Sept. 8.”