Port shuts out longtime rival

Nearly one month after dropping a 2-1 decision at Grafton High School, Port Washington’s soccer team exacted some revenge in the same place.

This time, the loser went home.

The No. 9-seeded Pirates shut out their rival No. 8-seeded Black Hawks, 2-0, in a Division 3 regional game, behind one early goal to take the lead and a late one to seal the deal.

Senior midfielder Andrew Skorik scored in the game’s first couple of minutes.

Midfielder Carson Roller booted a diagonal switching ball and “Andrew just tapped it right in,” coach Sean O’Brien said.

The first 85 seconds belonged to the Hawks, he said, while the Pirates were able to catch them on a counterattack.

“We put ourselves in a pretty big hole in the first minute, not defending real well,” Grafton coach Don Arnold said.

The score held up until the 88th minute. With the Hawks pushing to try to tie it up, senior midfielder Neil Schlessinger scored on a near-post shot.

The Hawks had their chances.

“Cale had a big save early on — pushed one wide,” O’Brien said.

Arnold said the lack of scoring affected more than the scoreboard.

“We do much better when we get that early goal. The adrenaline and excitement tend to rise. You play a little more free and more relaxed,” he said.

Instead, the Pirates got the early goal.

“We created some opportunities. It’s a struggle if you don’t finish,” Arnold said. “The team as a whole fought hard and played until the final whistle blew.”

O’Brien said his team limited Grafton spark plug Max Stilb’s opportunities and praised the play of Skorik, who scored Port’s only goal on Sept. 26. He said Porter Bostwick played well, along with Schlessinger, who played with a bum toe.

But O’Brien said he never felt like his team had the game in hand.

“At no point — even on the bus — did I feel comfortable with that win,” he said.

“It was just a classic rivalry game.”

Grafton finished the season 6-9-1 overall, 3-5-1 in the North Shore Conference.

“All you can ask for is guys to step up and play to their level. They walk away and enjoyed many positives that took place during the year,” Arnold said.

The Pirates last Saturday lost at No. 1-seeded Shorewood, 3-0.

Roller, Thomas Garant and Charlie Neitzke controlled the midfield in the first half.

“They didn’t have an answer for them,” O’Brien said.

But the Pirates missed on early chances.

“If we bury them, I think that changes the game,” O’Brien said.

The Greyhounds scored on a header from a corner kick late in the first half and got another goal on a penalty kick in the 65th minute. A third came on a direct kick.

O’Brien praised Sean Bongiorno for chasing down Shorewood’s fast forwards.

Port finished 7-10-1 overall, 2-6-1 in the NSC.

“I think we won the games we should have. We played conference teams tough. Overall, I’m pleased with the guys and their effort,” O’Brien said.