Grafton gets over Homestead hump, stays hot on the pitch

It was before Covid-19 became a thing and before Jason Rogers was coach of the Grafton High School girls’ soccer team.

That’s the last time the Black Hawks beat Homestead. Until last week.

Grafton beat the Highlanders, 4-0, at home on April 28, behind one goal each from Olivia Ruff, Katelyn Valenta, Brooklyn LaMontagne and Aliza Emanuele.

Mila Dotson, Sierra Javoroski and Brayleigh Sumner each had an assist.

“We’re getting goals from a wide range of players which makes us a very dangerous team,” Rogers said. “We’re not relying (on Valenta).”

Valenta started the season on fire, scoring eight goals in the first six games. Now, more Hawks are contributing.

Junior Lily Verplancke filled in for keeper Paige Proefrock, who sometimes misses games due to volleyball tournaments, and got the shutout.

“That was big to get a clean sheet from her. We’re starting to build some confidence even if Paige isn’t there,” Rogers said. “We want Paige there as much as we can, but on days we can’t have her the dropoff isn’t too far with Lily back there.”

Homestead went to 1-6-1.

“They’ve got some injuries and are down numbers this year. They are not quite the team they used to be,” Rogers said.

Grafton built a 3-0 lead by halftime and scored in the final 10 seconds of the game.

“We’ve been starting games pretty well, which is good. That’s the mindset we’ve been having. The quicker you put a team to bed the better,” Rogers said.

The Hawks tied the Highlanders last year after losing four straight times. They beat them, 8-0, in 2019.

The Hawks last Friday beat Luxemburg-Casco, 6-0, at home. It was their third win in a row after winning their first four games and losing their fifth.

Ruff and Dotson had two goals each. Ava Dotson, Mila’s older sister, scored once, along with Sumner. Proefrock was back and earned the shutout.

The Hawks scored in the first 10 seconds of the game. Mila Dotson got behind the back line and the keeper saved her shot. But Ava Dotson was right there and tapped it in.

Rogers joked with the coaches of the junior varsity team, which scored 19 seconds into its shutout.

“We couldn’t let them have that record for the year,” he said.

Ava Dotson, a junior, loves competing with her sibling.

“Playing with my sister is the best thing ever. We push each other really hard to be our best and compete, which helps the rest of our team,” she said. “And for her to only be a freshman and this physical and dominant, the North Shore Conference better watch out for her because she is just getting started.”

Both games were at Grafton’s grass soccer field, the first time the team wasn’t on its home turf this season.

“I was concerned grass might slow us down. It didn’t look like they missed a beat,” Rogers said.

Ava Dotson chalks up the Hawks’ success to teamwork.

“So far I think our successes really have been our top four forwards. We are all just very familiar with each others’ style of play, which is really helping us play together and get more goals than past seasons,” she said. “Our backline has also done an amazing job this year possessing and getting it into our forwards’ feet. Without them, we wouldn’t have all of this success.”

Grafton, 7-1, was to play at Nicolet on Tuesday, May 5. The Hawks play at Living Word Lutheran on Wednesday, May 6, and at Port Washington on Friday, May 8. They play at Heritage Christian on Monday, May 11.