Port soccer parties like it’s 2009

An 80-minute high school soccer game boiled down to just a few for the Port Washington and Grafton boys’ teams on Saturday.

Port came out storming in the second half of a game knotted at 1 and put three balls into the net in the 42nd through 45 minutes.

That broke the Black Hawks’ backs, and Port won a Division 3 regional title, 4-1, at home. It was Port’s first regional crown since 2009, the year their coach graduated from Port High.

“Knowing that we’re going to have that in the books just feels great as a team,” junior Scotty Bennett said.

“First time since 2009, the year I was born,” senior Kalin Mundt said.

“It’s amazing,” Tyson Blum said. “Respect to Grafton. It was a great performance by both teams.”

Grafton broke the scoreless tie first on a goal by Julian Terrill from Talan Roddy in the 20th minute on a set piece, one of the Pirates’ weaknesses this season. The Black Hawks possessed the ball more in the first 20 minutes than they had for the entire game against the Pirates in a 2-0 loss on Sept. 10.

Mundt tied it on a breakaway from Scotty Bennett in the 32nd minute.

Grafton lost its top all-around player Nikita Parsikovas to a leg injury late in the first half, and the Hawks struggled early in the second half.

Brady Knous scored on an assist by Grayson Allen in the 42nd minute, and Bennett Walter scored from Allen in the 45th minute, both on direct kicks.

Tyson Blum fired a fastball high into the net from Mundt in the 45th minute.

“In three minutes we scored three goals, and I was one of them. It felt great to get out to an early lead,” Walter said.

The game was essentially decided.

“Once you get that second goal to get the lead you get some momentum. The other team puts their heads down a bit and we were fortunate,” Port coach Mark Burmesch said.

“We talked about set pieces are going to be the difference in the game. We gave up one of them early, of course, and we were able to score off two. We don’t score off many set pieces, but that definitely was the difference in the game.”

He was thrilled that the goals came from players other than his leading scorer.

“If we get guys chipping in with goals and not just all Scotty Bennett, it’s better for us,” he said.

Grafton coach James Johnson talked about the early second-half barrage.

“Four and a half minutes can change things. Port’s a good team. I wish them well. I don’t think they outplayed us,” he said. “I think for four and a half minutes we let our guard down. They took advantage of it. Kudos to them.”

Port relaxed after taking the 4-1 lead.

“Once you’re not worrying about them scoring and they’re not a big threat, the game’s not as close, it’s definitely relieving,” defender Aidan McLaughlin said.

Port, 10-5-2, plays at 19-0-1 Freedom in a sectional semifinal on Thursday. The winner plays in Green Bay for a chance to go to state.

Grafton finished 4-12-1.