Grafton seeking to play a full game and win one

An unlucky bounce spoiled another strong second half by the Grafton High School soccer team last Thursday against Slinger.

The Owls escaped with a 2-1 win in a physical contest that included several yellow cards and at least one red, along with one downpour in each half.

Down, 2-0, Grafton sophomore defender Tanner Marien shot the ball past the goalkeeper on a penalty kick to pull the Black Hawks to within one in the 71st minute.

That energized the Hawks, who possessed the ball and went on the attack for the next several minutes.

“We need that intensity for a full 90 (minutes). We’re waiting on that still,” coach Greg Springman said.

As a result, the Hawks are still waiting on their first victory of the season.

The Owls scored in the 44th minute when Tommy Baekler deflected a free kick into the net.

In the 53rd minute, Mauricio Gundrum took a hard shot that hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced in for a 2-0 lead.

“They got the bounce and we didn’t,” Springman said.

The Hawks had their own chances, popping a shot over the goal off a rebound in the 40th minute and getting a slow bouncer off in the final seconds of the first half that the Owls’ keeper corralled.

Late in the game, the Hawks had a chance on a ball that came loose from the Owls’ keeper, but he jumped on it a split second before the speedy arrival of Hawk Carson Longdin, who fell over the keeper as he went to kick the ball.

“If we keep working hard, those chances will come,” Springman said.

The early deficit could have been worse, save for Grafton keeper Charlie Rose, who made 10 saves, including one that bounced off his hands as he dove forward to snag before an Owl could knock it in.

“He played a phenomenal game. He has improved so much over the last three weeks. If he keeps this up, he’s going to be a force to reckon with because he’s only a sophomore,” Springman said.

He praised the official for addressing the physical play early and not let it get out of control.

“Give the ref credit for what he did,” he said.

Slinger went to 2-3-0. Grafton is 0-4-2 after tying non-conference foe Kohler, 1-1, at home on Monday.

Cayden Sumber scored and Bryce Jobe had the assist.

The Hawks were to play at Cedarburg on Tuesday, at Nicolet Thursday, Oct. 6, and host West Bend West on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Pirates fall at powerhouse Homestead

Port Washington lost, 3-0, at Homestead on Sept. 30.

“The boys fought valiantly but unfortunately we were outmatched by Homestead,” coach Phil Nawrocki said.

The Highlanders, he said, possessed the ball for 70% of the match and made outstanding plays toward the goal.

Nawrocki credited sophomores Porter Bostwick and Spencer Struckman and senior goalkeeper Jack Schanen for playing well.

Port, 2-2, was to host West Bend East (0-4) on Tuesday, Whitefish Bay (5-0) on Thursday, and play at Hartford (0-3-1) on Tuesday, Oct. 13.