Ryan Finger makes a stop for the Clintonville boys’ soccer team as Emmett Lawton of Notre Dame Academy departs. Lawton scored the Tritons first goal on April 17 in a 4-1 win over the Truckers. Photo by Greg Seubert
Games scheduled until April
By Greg Seubert
After playing a few games last fall, the Clintonville men’s soccer team is back on the field to finish its season.
The Truckers gave up a 4-1 decision on April 17 at Notre Dame Academy, but coach Chadwick Dobbe said his side were happy to resume their schedule.
“It’s great to be outside and be with the guys again,” he said. “Losing (the season) in the fall was terrible. I wish I could play all the time, so I will definitely take this opportunity.
The Truckers played five games last fall before the season was suspended due to concerns over COVID-19. As the Clintonville women’s soccer, cross-country and tennis teams wrapped up their seasons, the men’s soccer and volleyball teams stopped playing and resumed their programs with the start of the alternate fall season of the WIAA.
The men’s soccer team returned to the field on April 5 hosting Sturgeon Bay and will end their regular season on Friday April 30 at home against Green Bay East.
“It’s been really good for us,” Dobbe said of the shoulder season. “I would say the transition was very easy. It’s not been nine months since you’ve touched a ball, it’s four or five. As the coaches arrived we knew it would be a daily task. We asked these guys to play a lot of positions, a lot of places that they’ve never played.
The Truckers trailed Notre Dame Academy, one of the best high school soccer programs in the region, 1-0 at halftime and 2-1 at the start of the second half before the Tritons sealed the match. victory with a pair of unanswered goals.
Ethan Masiachin scored the Clintonville goal with an assist from Nicolas Edwards.
“We’re young and don’t have a lot of seniors,” Dobbe said. “I wanted them to get that experience against one of the top teams because next fall I expect us to be one of the top teams. This fall will be my fourth year of training, so they’ve been in the system for four years and they’ve understood it very well.
“Today was our most complete game we’ve played,” he said. “If I hadn’t had to move some late guys we probably won’t give up those two late goals and it’s a 2-1 game.
The Truckers are scheduled to host Campbellsport at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 23.
“They are eager to learn and have overcome crazy circumstances,” Dobbe said. “All you could want as a coach is what I got from these guys. “
