Port nipped for second time by KML

Taking a one-goal lead with 20 minutes to play put the Port Washington High School boys’ soccer team in a good spot at Kettle Moraine Lutheran last Thursday, but the Chargers were again up to the task, scoring twice to win by the same score for the second time this season.

“KML was a tough one. We needed it to put ourselves alone in first place and to control our own destiny,” coach Mark Burmesch said. “It was a bummer for them to edge us 2-1 both times this season.”

Port went to 5-2-2 in the Glacier Trails Conference while KML is on top at 6-1-1. Kewaskum is in second at 6-2-1 and West Bend West is third at 6-3.

Port swept West Bend West and tied Kewaskum in a scoreless game. Port plays at Kewaskum again on Thursday, Oct. 9. KML would have to lose a couple of conference games and Port would have to win out to have a chance at the league title.

At KML, Port senior Xavier Styles broke the ice in the scoreless game in the 60th minute on an assist from Scotty Bennett.

“I know Scotty’s a great player on the ball, so as soon as he got it on his feet I looked for the run in behind and I angled it,” Styles said.

“He played a gorgeous ball right onto my feet. When I was running onto it I saw the keeper leaving far-post open, so I just passed it into the back of the net.”

The Chargers, which had possessed the ball more than Port, then turned it up a notch.

“Once we got the goal up, I think we kinda got a little relaxed thinking that was the game. They kept up the pressure. They’re a good team,” Styles said.

“Our defense played great in the first three-fourths of the game holding them off. When our playmaker Scotty Bennett dropped deeper, we were able to find him a few times to create chances, which ultimately led to the goal and the 1-0 lead. Overall, we didn’t find this enough, which led to just an accumulation of pressure on our defense,” Burmesch said.

The Chargers answered in the 68th minute, then scored again in the 78th minute. Midfielder Jacob Schwalenberg had both goals.

“It’s frustrating to not close that one out as they just wore us down through the middle of the field and got those two to put us away,” Burmesch said.

Port won, 3-0, on Sept. 30 at West Bend East, completing the season sweep.

Styles, Bennett and Angel Ramirez each scored in the first half. Ramirez had two assists and Bennett had one.

“West Bend East was a game we just wanted to get a win any way possible coming off a few weeks jam packed with games,” Burmesch said. “If we could break their first line and get to our midfielders with possession, we knew we could create chances with their man-to-man defense in the back. It started a little slow, but finally we were able to break through.”

After playing Kewaskum on Thursday, Port, 13-4-2 overall, plays at Oostburg on Saturday, Oct. 11, and hosts Plymouth on Tuesday, Oct. 14.