Grafton soccer finds the net

It was a long time coming, but the Grafton High School boys’ soccer team found a way to score, and goals came by the bunches in two home victories last weekend.

The Black Hawks beat Living Word Lutheran, 5-0, on Friday, then Luxemburg-Casco, 5-1, on Saturday.

“I think the guys did a great job of moving the ball, finding space and being willing to attack from different angles, and that had a lot to do with our success in putting the ball in the back of the net,” coach James Johnson said.

On Friday, Ethan Krueger, Julian Terrill, Nik Arentz, Crosby Wieland and Sam Ruff each scored a goal. Krueger had two assists and Ruff and Talan Roddy each had one.

“I feel like we outworked them and made sure we were the first to every 50-50 ball,” Johnson said.

On Saturday, Roddy and Jayme Dickmann each had two goals, and Arentz had one. Nikita Parsikovas had three assists.

“Luxemburg-Casco is a solid team and gave us a chance to make a statement after our seeding meeting when we got underseeded, in my opinion, with a 13 seed. They got a 7 seed,” Johnson said.

Grafton hadn’t scored since a 4-2 win over Plymouth on Aug. 28. A goal against Port Washington on Sept. 10 was credited as an own goal since it deflected off a Pirate.

Grafton 3-9-1 overall and 0-5 in the North Shore Conference, plays at Shorewood on Thursday, Oct. 15. The Hawks host Oostburg on Saturday, Oct. 17, and play at No. 4-seeded Oostburg in the playoffs on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Port drops two games

Port Washington lost to Kettle Moraine Lutheran, 2-0, on Oct. 1, and to Plymouth, 2-0, last Thursday.

Port, 6-5-2 overall and 4-5-1 in the Glacier Trails Conference, hosts Sheboygan South on Thursday, Oct. 15.

Port got a 5 seed in the Division 3 playoffs and hosts 12-seeded Denmark on Thursday, Oct. 22. The winner plays on Saturday, Oct. 24, against the winner of the Grafton and Oostburg game.

RLO wins two games

Random Lake/Ozaukee won at New Holstein, 2-0, on Oct. 6, and beat Roncalli at home, 6-1, last Thursday.

On Oct. 6, Joey Pierce scored on an assist from Jaxon Klas, and Klas scored unassisted. Both goals were in the second half.

“In the first half, we were able to put a lot of pressure on New Holstein’s goal but just weren’t able to finish,” coach Matt Wilson said.

RLO scored twice while keeping the clean sheet. Keeper Tyrus Simon had five saves.

Against Roncalli on senior night, Jackson Mayer and Jacob Kopiness each scored twice. Pierce and Jayce Yang each scored once. Max Klaus and Brady Ahrens each had an assist.

“RLO came out fast and put immediate pressure on the Roncalli players and did a great job of forcing them into making mistakes,” Wilson said.

After Roncalli started the second half fast, RLO soon put the game away.

“At about the 65th minute RLO just took over the game again and was able to put constant pressure on Roncalli’s goal,” Wilson said.

Seniors Klaus, Ahrens, Pierce, Mayer, Simon, Austin Hoffman, Mason Casper and Santiago Castaneda were honored.

“This has been such a fun group to coach through the years, and they have worked very hard to find the success they are seeing this season,” Wilson said.

RLO, 9-7-1 overall and 3-6-1 in the Big East/Eastern Wisconsin Conference, hosts Eastbrook Academy on Thursday, Oct. 15. They got an 11 seed in the Division 4 playoffs and play at No. 3 University School of Milwaukee on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Injuries still hamper CG-Belgium

Cedar Grove-Belgium lost, 6-0, to Sheboygan Christian/Lutheran on Oct. 6 and 5-0 at Oostburg on Oct. 8.

The Rockets were down, 2-0, at halftime to Christian, the No. 1-ranked team in Division 4, despite allowing 19 shots and eight corner kicks.

“Myles Posthuma was impressive in goal,” coach John Krechel said. “Colton Eischen  on offense and Parker Held on defense played outstanding.”

The Rockets were also down, 2-0, at halftime against Oostburg.

“Parker Held and Levi Heinen again did outstanding work aligning our defense against 10 shots and 16 corner kicks,” Krechel said.

The Rockets, 1-9 in the conference and 3-12 overall, play at Shoreland Lutheran on Friday, Oct. 16. They got a 13 seed and play at No. 4 Racine St. Catherine in the Division 4 playoffs on Oct. 22.