By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
Union Grove boys soccer Sean Jung coach predicted this was the year his team shatters the school’s all-time season win total.
Sure enough, the Broncos broke the record this past week during a 4-0 victory over Waterford last Tuesday.
The victory, which was the Broncos’ seventh this season, set the tone for a strong week of soccer that also saw Union Grove (7-5, 2-2-1) thump non-conference foe West Allis Central 6-0, and then lose a tough 4-0 game to Southern Lakes Conference frontrunner Delevan-Darien last Thursday.
“With our victory over Waterford, we broke the humble all-time wins mark for the boys,” Jung said. “We knew we had the talent to get to this point, but it is nice to set the mark.”
The Broncos’ victory over the Wolverines was also the first time in school history that Union Grove has beaten Waterford in boys soccer.
“This was one of our better efforts this season,” Jung said.
Senior Nick Jaworski set the tone with his second consecutive hat trick to put the Broncos on top 3-0. Jaworski’s goals came in 30th, 55th, and 72nd minute with Daniel Rivera assisting on the first two goals, and Zach Rasmussen assisting on the third. Sophomore CJ Mauer put the finishing touches on the victory with his first goal of the season in the 87th minute, which was assisted by Ian Perkins.
Goalie Hayden Howard stopped five shots on his way to adding to his school-record fifth shutout.
The Broncos victory over Waterford came a day after a dominating 6-0 victory at West Allis Central. Jaworski tallied four goals in the game, include three unassisted, to help pummel Central. Ian Perkins and Colin Killberg tallied the other goals for Union Grove, which was in control from the opening kick.
Howard recorded another shutout in the game, stopping five shots, including a penalty shot.
“Our back line played rock solid,” Jung said. “They did a nice job closing space and limiting chances.”
After outscoring their opponents 10-0 last Monday and Tuesday, the Broncos’ offense was derailed by Delavan-Darien last Thursday.
The Comets, who are tied for first in the Lakes with Lake Geneva Badger, are 13-1 overall this season and one of the premier teams in the area.
“They were as good as I’ve seen Delavan, but we hung in there,” Jung said. “It will take something special to beat the Comets.”
The Broncos certainly didn’t back down, battling to a scoreless tie for the first 35 minutes of the game.
Union Grove nearly took a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute when Alfredo Martin’s shot barely sailed wide of an open net.
The Comets finally broke through in the 36th minute and took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Delavan-Darien then unloaded three goals on the Broncos in the second half and posted the impressive victory.
“We knew how talented they were coming in, but we played with some weak side help on their two very strong forwards so we could close space and defend them a bit easier,” Jung said. “They came at us with force in the second half, hardly allowing us to breathe, and we sustained heavy pressure for about 12 minutes without conceding a second goal but eventually broke down.”
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