Grafton soccer starting slowly

It has been a slow start to the Grafton High School soccer team’s season.

The Black Hawks’ reseeded field that prevented the girls’ team from holding a home game in spring isn’t ready yet, and heavy rains postponed an Aug. 28 game at North Shore Conference foe West Bend West.

“It seems like it’s spring out there right now,” coach Don Arnold said.

The Hawks are 0-1-1 on the young season, after losing to Catholic Memorial, 2-1, on Aug. 21 and earning a draw with Kettle Moraine Lutheran on Aug. 23.

“So far so good,” Arnold said.

“I was pleasantly surprised with our Memorial effort. We made the boys aware of it — you just competed with one of the best teams you’re going to see in your division. You stood toe to toe with them and had opportunities to even the game.”

After a scoreless first half, Memorial’s Nate Brown netted two goals in 70 seconds.

The Hawks answered in the 84th minute on a score from Jonathon Weinhold on a “nice cross on the ground” from Carter Day, Arnold said.

The Hawks lost their only all-conference player, midfielder Brian Holdmann, to graduation. He earned honorable mention last year.

But the team has some experience. Senior goalkeeper Isaiah Voiland, who Arnold said played well against Memorial and Lutheran, is back.

“He made some huge saves,” Arnold said.

“If he makes big saves, it definitely gives the guys in front of him a little more confidence. We’re just hoping he can keep building off of the first couple of outings.”

Day and Brandon Pegalow return, along with juniors Victor Geiser, Max Weinhold and Nathan Wagner and sophomores Evan and Bryce Jobe.

The Hawks lost 11 seniors last season, and a smaller freshman class has come in, so numbers overall aren’t as large as in years past among the varsity and junior varsity teams.

So far the team has excelled on defense. Elijah Voss has moved up to varsity and has been doing well in the center back position and playing with Pegalow.

Midfielders Max Stilb, Wagner, Geiser and Day should light up the scoreboard.

“I think our midfield is going to be our strong suit. We’re hoping to get some offensive push going,” Arnold said.

The Hawks are scheduled to play Martin Luther at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee on Thursday and to host NSC foe Homestead on Tuesday, Sept. 11.

“We’re itching to put the gear back on and match up with somebody for real,” Arnold said.

Rockets start 0-1 after one-plus game

Cedar Grove-Belgium was 13 minutes into its season opener on Aug. 28 at Sheboygan Christian/Lutheran before Mother Nature put a kibosh on any soccer playing.

A tornado warning canceled the game.

On Aug. 30 at St. Mary Central, the Rockets worked to bounce back in from a 2-1 second-half deficit but fell just short.

Calvin Lutzke scored 50 seconds into the game to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead.

“The game then began to open up with both teams pushing for the next goal,” coach Elias Garza said.

“The Zephyrs would find their equalizer from the most unlikely of scenarios when our goalkeeper cleared the ball after a one-on-one opportunity, and a Zephyr player picked up the clearance around the half way line, took a few touches, and then launched an effort from 45 to 50 yards that managed to find its way over our keeper’s head.”

The teams took a 1-1 tie into halftime.

The second half “was largely played in periods of momentum as each team took turns launching attacks at the other goal,” Garza said.

The Rockets were denied a penalty kick and chance to take the lead for a trip, Garza said.

The Zephyrs took the lead when a ball bounced around a host of players in the penalty area, and a St. Mary Central player punched it in.

The Rockets missed a couple of point-black opportunities and ultimately lost.

“The Zephyrs played hard throughout and their determination was the ultimate deciding factor in ensuring the result went their way as the Rockets struggled to compete in the 50-50 battle during large stretches of the game,” Garza said.

The Rockets are scheduled to host Sheybogan Falls at 6 p.m. Thursday and play at Kohler at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11.