By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Two streaks – a winless streak and a shutout streak – were finally broken by the Union Grove High School boys soccer team Sept. 26.
Both streaks were broken when the Bronco boys traveled to Burlington and defeated the Demons 1-0.
Head coach Sean Jung noted the victory broke a 25-game winless streak in the Southern Lakes Conference that had spanned three seasons. It also broke a six-year shutout drought, and was the Broncos first ever shutout on the road.
The win gave the Bronco boys a 4-11-1 overall record, and a 1-5-1 SLC mark, going into the SLC Tournament this week.
“We held the ball in Burlington’s end the majority of the first half, finally scoring off a deflected cross that feel to Brandon Staven and he tapped it home from 16 yards out,” Jung said.
Union Grove began to lose its composure in the second half, giving Burlington several uncontested shots from a distance, but Ian Perkins made seven saves and kept the Demons off the board.
It was Perkins second start in goal.
“Ian Kramer won virtually every headball in our back line and blocked a half-dozen shots,” Jung said. “He was a huge part of the blank sheet, as well.”
Vs. Elkhorn
Two days earlier, the Broncos hosted a very talented Elkhorn squad and dropped a 2-1 decision.
“We’d prepped all practice on Monday to shut down their star forward Jerome Durhan, and he still ended up scoring their second goal just 14 minutes into that match,” Jung said.
Elkhorn got on the board just nine minutes into the game on what Jung called “an amazing goal” from 25 yards away that found the top corner of the net.
After falling behind 2-0, Union Grove settled down and cut the lead to 2-1 in the 21st minute. Brandon Staven tapped home a Max Wagner cross for that goal.
“We battled them in the second half, but they were more talented than us in several key spots and we struggled to sustain an attack,” Jung said.
The Broncos did have one great chance to tie the game in the 55th minute, but Kramer’s header went just wide.
Perkins, in his first start in goal, made 11 saves. Perkins made the start because the other two Bronco goalkeepers were injured.
Union Grove played Wilmot Tuesday in the opening round of the SLC Tournament, and then took on either Burlington or Waterford on Thursday.
The Bronco boys will conclude their regular season action at Racine Case on Saturday, Oct. 5, in a non-conference matchup.
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