Soccer teams are hitting their stride

After not winning a league game last season, the Grafton High School girls’ soccer team changed that in a nail-biting manner on April 30.

In the final minute, with the game tied at 1, Lily Verplancke took the ball out far right and made a pass to Sophia Goetz in the box. Goetz found the back of the net with 30 seconds left.

“Goetz made a run and she won that game,” coach Jason Rogers said.

Katelyn Valenta had the Black Hawks’ other goal on an assist from Goetz.

“To go from not winning a conference game last year to we’ve got one on our books” feels good, Rogers said.

Last Thursday, the Hawks blanked Brown Deer, 5-0, in their first home game on their grass field during the wet spring.

Verplancke had two goals and Olivia Ruff, Brayleigh Sumner and Sierra Javoroski each had one. Valenta, Goetz, Sumner Ella Gentz and Kayla Weisgerber each had an assist.

The right-footed Verplancke scored both with her left foot.

“The passes were really good and I thought we had a lot of good chances,” she said.

Rogers said he went deep on his bench — including junior varsity player June Weiland — and didn’t lose any quality, “which is an exciting thing as a coach.”

Port tops Hartford on road

Port Washington beat Hartford, 2-1, on April 30, behind goals by Reagan Jerome and Emme Degenhardt. Mia Blum had an assist. Lily Kerbel had 14 saves.

“In the second half, we didn’t want to give up and continued to stretch field,” coach Sandy Bennett said.

Port lost, 4-2, to Cedarburg last Thursday. The Bulldogs scored four goals early.

“We made some adjustments on our defense. Mia Blum, Madelynne Knapp and Madi Uselding played a better defensive game against a very good offense,” Bennett said.

Jerome and Degenhardt scored in the second half.