Port soccer hopes team bonding results in scoring

The Port Washington High School boys’ soccer team is already seeing the seeds of familiarity, which in this case didn’t breed contempt.

“We came in stronger as a team this year than we did last year. There’s more of a bond they’ve got this year,” second-year coach Tyler Schultz said.

“They’ve been working together throughout the summer at captain’s practices. Most of them have been playing since they were little, so they know each other well.”

They also know Schultz and are more in tune with his expectations.

That bodes well to improve on last year’s 3-13-1 record.

Senior Porter Bostwick is back to lead the scoring load and will get help from junior striker Wesley Hoag, who played wing last year.

“He’s improved his shooting,” Schultz said.

North Shore Conference honorable mention forwards Evan Huber and Masoud Zulakafar graduated.

Junior Elliot Hadacek is a center midfielder. Sophomore Turner Styles is playing wing, and senior Lucas Poull has stepped up from the back to play wing.

“He has shown some big steps from being a defensive-minded player to an offensive-minded player,” Schultz said.

Sophomore Joe Sepanic can play midfield after getting a little experience there last season.

NSC honorable mention midfielder Logan Bares graduated.

Senior Connor Cowen is playing center back after playing there last season.

Senior Erik Krueger is another center back who hopes to return from injury.

“He knows his stuff,” Schultz said. “I’m looking for he and Connor to stand their ground.”

Senior Jayden Schwengel is at outside back.

“He has shown some real big improvements from last year to this year,” Schultz said.

Port lost NSC honorable mention defender Sean Bongiorno to graduation.

Senior Spencer Struckman is back at keeper. He nearly received NSC honorable mention last season, Schultz said.

Schultz wants to win back the Timm Snider Trophy from Grafton this season, a traveling trophy between the teams, and stick with top teams better than the Pirates did last season.

“We’re just trying to get our goal differential better than it was last year,” Schultz said.

Port alumnus R.J. Lange is back as assistant coach.

“He has brought quite a bit to the table for us to work with,” Schultz said.

John Crain is the veteran junior varsity coach who “knows is way around the field,” Schultz said.

Port is 0-4 to start the season. The Pirates lost at Beaver Dam, 2-0; to Waukesha North, 4-0; Sheboygan South, 21; and at Whitefish Bay, 8-0, via the mercy rule in 60 minutes.

Bostwick scored Port’s first goal of the season on a free kick from about 20 yards out against Sheboygan South. He sent the ball to the top left corner from the right side of the goal.

At Whitefish Bay, Port held one of the state’s top teams to four goals in the first half “which is kind of good if you think about it,” Schultz said.

“Spencer pretty much saved us toward the 60-minute mark. It would have been over sooner. The same with Connor Cowen — he helped out back there.”

Port hosts West Bend East on Thursday, Sept. 8, plays in a Sheboygan North tournament on Saturday, Sept. 10, and at Nicolet on Tuesday, Sept. 13.