Third time and still no charm for Port vs. KML

The hope was this time it was going to be different. The reality was the same.

Kettle Moraine Lutheran topped the Port Washington High School boys’ soccer team, 2-0,  in a Division 3 sectional final in Kohler on Saturday. It was the Chargers’ third win this season over the Pirates.

“They’re good. They’ve gotta be the favorites to win it all,” coach Mark Burmesch said. “Every kid’s really good on the ball, good under pressure. They’re strong.”

Port won the coin toss and took the wind in the first half.

“We knew to get a good chance we needed to get first goal,” Burmesch said.

“We just didn’t come out ready to go. Took much kickball instead of trying to play like we normally do.”

Port scored in the third minute but was offsides, and the goal was waved off.

KML scored on a penalty kick in the 16th minute. The Chargers added a second goal in the 53rd minute.

Port threatened multiple times, but leading scorer Scotty Bennett was sometimes triple-teamed, and sent a couple of free kicks just over the goal.

“They play the ball very well,” senior Grayson Allen said. “Good first touches, good second touches. I think it was just the quality of play of the whole team that we couldn’t overcome.”

“We knew they were going to come out strong,” senior Kalin Mundt said. “We can’t really do anything about them being good.”

Port wins semifinal on gravel

Last Thursday, Port won at top-seeded Freedom, 2-1, in overtime, in the worst field Burmesch and many of his players have seen.

“It was basically a gravel dirt pit,” Burmesch said, adding the field and goals were not regulation size.

Freedom took the lead when a ball bounced over a Port defender’s foot and into the goal.

Allen tied the game on a free kick from 20 yards out.

With two minutes left in the first 10-minute overtime period, Tyson Blum scored on an assist from Gracen Chapman. Port held on for the win.

“It was a huge win for us,” Burmesch said.

“We were all so hyped for that. No. 1 seed. We just took them down,” Mundt said.

“Just a very exhilarating game,” Allen said.

Port finished 11-6-2 on the season and won its first regional title since 2009.

“I’m so grateful to make it this far this year,” senior Riley Pack said.

“I basically grew up in Port my whole life. I’ve been on the team four years. Outside of school I’m with these guys every day after school.”

For Allen, the soccer team is “just a great family. Going to Culver’s every game, the pasta parties,” he said. “Captain’s practices are awesome. Three times a week, go just talk with the boys, play with them. It’s definitely going to be a highlight of my high school career.”

Mundt also loved his time on the team.

“I love every single person on the team, even if I’ve acted like I didn’t. We all love the sport,” he said.

This is the first senior group Burmesch has coached for four years. He only loses four, but he said they helped change the program’s culture.

“You can see the change in the program. I think we showed it by making a little bit of a run here,” he said.

“We bring back a ton of seniors next year.”