Ironwood falls to Ashland

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - Soccer powerhouse Ashland defeated Ironwood 8-0 on Tuesday at Airport Park.

Ironwood's Katie Erickson was fantastic in goal in the second half, but the Devils lost their leader on the field with her in net.

"She's a natural athlete," Ironwood coach Don Cvengros said. "She played all sports. She's got good eye-hand coordination. That's what a goalie has to have.

"She really made some fabulous saves in the second half. She was diving all over the place."

Cvengros was happy with how his team defended Ashland in the first 20 minutes as the Devils focused on defense against the high-powered Oredockers.

"It's more of a defensive positioning, you hang back and you flow together as a team and not chasing the ball around," he said. "Once you start chasing it on the side, that's how they break you down and they start passing it through."

Cvengros expects Ashland to go far in the Wisconsin playoffs.

"They're good," he said. "When you watch them play compared to other teams, that's their sport. They play year-around and they're good at it.

"They have a lot of kids out and that helps, too. That's a big soccer town, Ashland."

Ironwood hosts Phillips Thursday.