By Christopher Bennett
Correspondent
The Waterford High School girls soccer team improved to 8-3-1 after winning two games and finishing in fifth place in the Racine County Invitational.
The invitational was held May 1 and 2 at Burlington High School. The Wolverines beat Union Grove in the fifth-place game.
The Broncos and Wolverines ended regulation tied 0-0, and Waterford won in shootout 5-4 after six rounds.
Joy French had the game-winning shootout kick.
Against Union Grove (8-3-1) on May 2, Lauren Torhorst, Ella Hunsucker, Andi Wenck, Hannah Tuska and French scored in the shootout. Wenck also made seven saves and preserved the shutout for Waterford.
Waterford beat Racine Park (2-7-1) May 2 in its second game of the tournament.
“We played a much better brand of soccer, with our movement, and we connected with our passing at a greater rate,” Waterford coach Rob Blascoe said.
Lauren Torhorst scored twice against Park, and ranks second in the state with 25 goals. Rachel Jordan and Hunsucker also scored, and French, Hannah Duerst and Madison Blair provided the assists. Wenck made two saves in the shutout.
Waterford opened the tournament with a 2-0 loss to Burlington (6-2-2). Wenck made nine saves.
“We didn’t play very well,” Blascoe said. “I don’t think we transitioned very well from being on turf the night before and then going to grass. It seemed our passes lacked the proper weight, and we gave up possession often.”
Waterford played on turf at Westosha Central April 30 and beat the Falcons 8-0 in a SLC match. The Wolverines led 5-0 at the half.
Torhorst finished with three goals in just 35 minutes of playing time. Kenzie Malecki scored two goals and Hunsucker, Blair and Jenna Ritzman each scored one.
Torhorst and Hunsucker each scored three goals in Waterford’s 6-0 victory April 28 against the Waukesha Home School Association Saints at home. Wenck recoded shutouts against both Central (0-4-0, 0-1) and the Saints (0-1-0).