Numbers continue to climb for Port kickers:

Participation is up again for the Port Washington High School boys’ soccer team.

This season, coach Mark Burmesch has 42 players, eight more than last year and 12 more than in 2024.

“We are very encouraged by this and have even added some junior varsity 2 matches to make sure everyone is getting playing time across the program. With only three seniors this season, we look for continued increases in numbers in future years,” he said.

Port looks to build off a 15-6-3 mark last season. The Pirates were 6-3-3 in the Glacier Trails Conference and finished in fourth place.

The Pirates return the second-leading scorer in the GTC. Scotty Bennett had 23 goals and 13 assists last season, which is in the top five in single-season history for Port.

“Scotty looks as sharp as ever, and if he continues to show this growth in focus and maturity that he has started the season with, he’s going to be in for a massive season,” Burmesch said. “The young attackers need to see the ‘bulldog’ Scotty that flies around the field and back tackles just as hard as he plays offense. Scotty has the tools and the firepower to be the best offensive player in the conference and state this year.”

Kalin Mundt is back and is the second-leading returning scorer with four goals and three assists. The rest of the attackers will need to step up, Burmesch said.

“Scotty leads an attacking unit that has a lot of speed, but besides him and senior Kalin Mundt, the others haven’t been looked at for significant point production until this year as we need to replace last year’s senior offensive contributors,” he said.

Sophomore Brody Knous will be on the attack after playing in 23 games last year.

“He will be looked at to create things up and down the left-hand side replacing last year’s all-conference playmaker Angel Ramirez,” Burmesch said.

Ramirez, who graduated, had five goals and six assists.

Sophomores Dean Williams and Casey Northrup, freshman Keegan McGivern and senior Riley Pack are all expected to contribute minutes on the wing and as strikers, Burmesch said.

“Dean Williams has speed for days and will look to get in behind and cause problems. Keegan has had a very impressive camp entering his freshman season and has shown to be both physically and mentally very mature, and he should be up to the task of the pounding of a varsity match after earning a spot on the roster,” Burmesch said.

The Pirates bring some experience back in the midifeld.

“The core midfield group of Bennett Walter, Sawyer Crain, Tyson Blum, Isaac Pionek and Davis Bostwick all played varsity minutes last year and will all share minutes again this year,” Burmesch said. 

“It’s one of the most important areas on the pitch, and one that our team has struggled to control at times over the last few years that has led to breakdowns across the field and counterattack goals. Junior captain Bennett Walter has moved up to a central defensive midfield role to begin the season in an attempt to solidy this area of the field with the graduation of all-conference performer John Woods.”

In addition, freshman Gracen Chapman “has had an excellent summer and preseason camp with the team and is expected to contribute to the center attacking midfield position. He has very advanced vision and control of the ball and will look to play in and around the upperclassmen,” Burmesch said.

Senior captain Graysen Allen, a first-team GTC player, is back to anchor the defense filled with juniors who have a range of varsity experience.

“Graysen has looked every part of an even better player coming into this season. Big, fast, physical; he has all the tools of a great high school center back,” Burmesch said.

Junior captain Aidan McLaughlin will play alongside Allen.

“Playing last year as primarily a plug-in outside back, Aidan hit the weight room and is both physically stronger and very focused on leading the team by example,” Burmesch said.

“Juniors Ethan Driggers, Gavin Cain, Grady Rorabeck and Carter Bannon will lead a very competitive outside back unit that will be looked upon to get up into the offensive third more on overlaps to create personnel advantages.”

Junior Landon Lindner takes over for two-time team most valuable player and first-team GTC keeper George Pasko, who is playing for the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

“Landon spent a lot of time the last two seasons developing himself physically and tactically while learning the ins and outs of what made Pasko successful. It’s Landon’s team now in goal and we look forward to seeing him take advantage,” Burmesch said.

The team, he said, has made strides in the past several months.

“The work put in during the offseason has been the most since my time here started and we look forward to the challenge of a season with some expectations and goals,” Burmesch said. “Finishing in the top few of conference with a chance to win the school’s first conference title would be great as well as winning multiple playoff games is what we are all chasing.”

The GTC, he said, has no weak links.

“The top half of the conference all returns some elite players and the bottom half of the conference should all be improved. It makes a crazy tight race,” Burmesch said.

Port started by tying former North Shore Conference foe Nicolet at 4 on the road on Aug. 25.

Bennett, Walter, Knous and McGivern scored. Cain, Allen, Mundt and Williams each had an assist.

Port fell behind, 1-0, in the first three minutes, but battled back to a 2-1 halftime lead. Port held a lead for most of the second half before Nicolet tied it with four minutes left.

In addition to Bennett, Burmesch liked the play of Walter.

“Bennett Walter had an awesome all around game. He spent most of the game shadowing and battling it out with a returning all-state center midfielder for them in Cooper Corcoran and did a great job handling it,” Burmesch said.

Port tied GTC foe West Bend West, 3-3, at home last Thursday.

Chapman scored twice and Bennett once. Knous had two assists and Allen had one.

Port battled back from trailing, 1-0, at halftime in adjusting to playing on grass.

“The second half was easily the best I’ve ever seen from Brady. He was winning every single one-on-one against his defenders and showed off some impressive deception on turns to wrong-foot defenders,” Burmesch said.

Chapman tied the game with four minutes left on a set piece from Allen.

“Both Grays had big second halves,” Burmesch said.

Port plays at West Bend East on Thursday, Sept. 3, and at Kettle Moraine Lutheran on Tuesday, Sept. 8.