Marine girls take down Orioles but fall to Notre Dame in Regional championship tilt

MARINETTE — A pair of hat tricks lifted the No. 7 seed Marinette girls soccer team to a 7-2 thumping of No. 10 North Fond du Lac/Oakfield in the opening round of the WIAA Division 3 Regional playoffs on Thursday.

Kylie Kunick and Sierra Schreiner served as Marinette’s version of Batman and Robin offensively, with Kunick scoring the opening goal off an assist from Schreiner before the dynamic duo reversed roles for the Marines’ second goal of the first half.

After Bry Torkko put Marinette ahead 3-1 nine minutes into the second half, Schreiner and Kunick scored and assisted on back-to-back goals as the Marines’ advantage swelled to 5-1 with 20:11 left to play.

Kunick pumped in her third goal off an assist from Torkko before Schreiner wrapped up her hat trick with an unassisted laser past Oriole goalie Jaelyn Wallendal, which put Marinette ahead by five with 2:36 remaining.

“We just played unselfish,” Marinette coach Allyson Price said. “The girls moved the ball around really well. They were ready to get a win.”

Jenna Krupp was responsible for both of the Orioles’ goals, with the first tying the game at 1-1 10 minutes into the first half.

Krupp’s second goal came with 4:57 on the clock in the second half that cut Marinette’s lead down to 6-2.

Thursday’s victory ensured the Marines a date with No. 2 Notre Dame for the Division 2 Regional Championship on Saturday, but things did not go Marinette’s way in Green Bay.

The Tritons (15-5-2 overall) managed to shut down Marinette’s potent offense, holding the Marines scoreless for just the second time all season, as Notre Dame notched a 4-0 decision.

The Marines close out the season with an overall record 12-5-1.