It’s a great eight for CG-Belgium girls’ soccer

Even the oldest members of the Cedar Grove-Belgium High School girls’ soccer team weren’t in middle school when the Rockets’ run of regional titles started.

They kept it going at home on Saturday, beating Kewaskum, 7-1, for a Division 3 crown. 

“We watched all the previous teams, like when Abby Kraus was on the team and they were winning. It’s really cool to be a part of a big story,” junior Mia Grisolono said.

“It’s wild to think about. We do our best to talk about it with the team every year. We don’t want to take this for granted. There are so many teams out there who would give anything to get their hands on a regional plaque just once,” coach Zac Garza said. “Winning is a very difficult thing to do, even if sometimes it doesn’t seem that way.”

The Indians came out intense, holding the Rockets scoreless for nearly 15 minutes.

Sophomore Arden Getschman scored the first three goals, the third on a fastball assist from Cora Erickson. Getschman broke out the F-18 afterburners to slide and knock the ball into the goal while avoiding the right post.

“I just kinda went and hoped to get a foot on it. It worked out,” she said.

Kahleah Knight, Grace Konzak and Gracie Schmidt each scored, and Olivia Bahr booted a 45-yard bomb for a score. Erickson had four assists, one shy of her career high. Aubrey Marti had an assist.

The Rockets opened the playoffs with an 11-0 win over New London last Thursday. Erickson had four goals. Konzak and Getschman each had two, and Marti, Kami Horn and Lillia Brandt each had one. Getschman had three assists, Horn had two and Erickson, Schmidt and Madisyn Johnson each had one.

The Rockets, 23-0, host Sheboygan Falls on Thursday and if they win play at home again on Saturday.

Ozaukee/Random Lake wins regional

Lexi Wilson scored 13 minutes into the game on an assist from Madie Prom for the Cedar Valley High girls, as they like to call themselves, in Saturday’s home Division 4 regional final against Lodi.

Kamrin Kunz added a second-half goal on a Wilson assist, and the team kept the shutout.

“Lodi had a lot of size, speed and hustle. They had their opportunities, but our back line of Chloe Dybul, Baszonia Neumann, Mya Ternes, Addison Brody and Abby Depies with Rebecca Kraemer in goal were solid all day, and I’m proud of these girls,” coach Matt Wilson said.

The team beat Berlin, 8-0, at home last Thursday.

Prom had two goals in 20 seconds. Wilson scored three. Mia Evraets had two and Baszonia Newumann had one. Chesney Mayer had two assists and Kunz had one.

Multiple members cited team chemistry as the secret to their success on Thursday.

“We had a lot of individuals when we came to the team a couple of seasons ago. Now we just learn to play together and play as a team. We honestly just love being in each other’s presence now. It’s so much fun being on the field together,” Prom said.

“We’re all friends now. It’s hard coming from two different schools. It’s easy to play on the field when you trust your teammates and you’re able to rely on them to do the job that needs to be done,” Dybul said.

The team, 12-6-2, hosts Central Wisconsin Christian on Thursday and if it wins hosts a sectional final on Saturday.

Grafton falls in PK heartbreaker

Grafton had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 at Kettle Moraine Lutheran on Saturday before the Chargers tied it with less than three minutes to play.

Brooklyn Lamontagne scored early for Grafton, and Lily Verplancke scored in the second half.

Nobody scored in overtime, and KML prevailed, 4-2, on penalty kicks.

“We didn’t give up and we kept fighting,” Verplancke said.

“We did really well. We got the goals that we needed. I think we definitely played our best,” senior Sophia Goetz said.

Coach Jason Rogers said, “Games like this we haven’t had a lot of — playing for something meaningful and being ahead and just seeing games out.”

He said Verplancke is a “workhorse for us” and credited the seniors, who went from a zero-win season to .500 the last two seasons. Grafton finished 6-6-5.

Grafton beat Hmong American Peace Academy, 13-0, last Thursday.

Port also dominates its final home game

Port Washington beat Martin Luther, 8-0, last Thursday before losing the regional final at Shorewood, 5-0, on Saturday.

Sam Navigato got a sliding score past the keeper, and Grace Riley and Madison Myers each scored to give Port a 3-0 halftime lead.

Reagan Jerome scored twice in the second half. Kaylee Elgin scored once and Libby Holmes fired a long-range rocket to end the game via the mercy rule in the 63rd minute.

“I was just thinking I messed up so many times. I’ve got to rip one more,” Holmes said.

Myers scored after Martin Luther’s keeper and a defender collided.

“In full honesty, I thought I was going to hit the goalie so I kind of backed away a little bit. I’m a left-footed player, so when I saw the ball pop out right in front of me, I had to use my right foot and I was really scared I was going to miss. It was kind of in slow motion. I watched them collide, it was right there,” she said.

Jerome said the team started slow but picked it up.

“I think we just struggled connecting passes overall. Once we got there, I think we connected and really made improvements,” she said.

“Beautiful weather and we needed a win at home like this for our seniors,” coach Sandy Bennett said.

Port finished the season 6-8-2.