No bus required

It was 2017 when the Grafton High School girls’ soccer team played its last home game.

The Black Hawks’ field was reseeded, forcing the team to play all road games last season. Cedarburg offered its field for senior night, but that still required a short bus drive.

April 23 was their first game back on their own field, and the Hawks took full advantage, hammering Homestead, 8-0.

Star Hailey Block scored four goals — two in each half — and assisted on three others. Kate Sewart, Marie Weinhold, Malaya Sperber and Zoe Dolberg each scored once.

Sperber, Sewert, Helena Gehrke and Isabella Rapp each had one assist.

“The girls were definitely very excited to finally play at home. They came out strong, came out quickly,” coach Don Arnold said.

It was 3-0 barely eight minutes into the game. Block scored twice and had one assist.

“If she’s got the ball, she’s going to create something for herself or her teammates,” Arnold said.

The Hawks last weekend won the De Pere Invite in heart-stopping fashion, closing with a shootout victory over Highland Park after the teams tied 1-1 through regulation.

In the shootout — Grafton’s first of the year — Block, Abbie Schad, Laura Stockhausen, Claire Kosidowski, Kenzie Schultz and Ava Pederson all scored for the Hawks. Highland Park’s sixth shooter sent the ball over the goal, giving the Hawks a 6-5 edge.

Highland Park broke the ice with a goal in the 65th minute. The Hawks answered in the 77th on a goal by Block. Brianna Rapp and Corbin Woesnner assisted.

“I thought we did well in keeping our composure,” Arnold said.

On a windy Friday, the Hawks beat Kimberly, 3-1, with all the scoring in the first half. Block scored twice and Weinhold once. Block and Weinhold each had an assist.

“Defensively, I thought we played phenomenal,” Arnold said, praising the play of Rapp, Schultz, Schad and Pederson and adding that goalkeeper Corbin Woessner came up with a huge save.

Grafton, 7-1, had Tuesday’s game at Whitefish Bay postponed. The Hawks host Nicolet on Tuesday, May 7.

Port Washington lost the title game of its home quadrangular tournament on Saturday to Madison Edgewood, 4-1.

Madison Zwicker scored Port’s goal on a long shot that sailed over the keeper’s head. Edgewood scored three first-half goals.

Last Friday, Port beat New Holstein, 3-1, to advance to the final. Kelly Fischer, Tess Schueller and Shelby Ortyn each scored. Zwicker had two assists.

Last Thursday, the Pirates beat Milwaukee King, 2-1, in a non-conference game.

“We gave up a goal in the 19th minute but had good possession and shots, just didn’t score,” coach Eric Liebergen said.

Fischer scored on an assist by Wehner to start the Pirates’ scoring the 55th minute. Claire Holdbeck scored on an assist from Schueller in the 83rd minute to take the lead.

“There’s a big difference between playing with urgency and panicking.  We played with urgency, kept our cool, and got rewarded for it,” Liebergen said.

On April 23, the Pirates lost, 2-0, to Nicolet.

“Not the result we wanted, but we grew from it and learned that we can play faster with decisions and movement off the ball,” Liebergen said.

Port, 8-3-1, had Tuesday’s game at Cedarburg moved to Wednesday. It plays at Slinger on Thursday and hosts Hartford on Tuesday, May 7.