By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
In a season that saw the Union Grove boys soccer team give up the least amount of goals in school history, the Broncos seemingly had a good chance of holding a one-goal lead against Wauwatosa East Thursday, Oct. 20.
Unfortunately for the Broncos, Wauwatosa East broke the trend with three unanswered goals, including two in the second half, to post a 3-1 victory in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal at Whitman Middle School in Wauwatosa.
With the disappointing loss, Union Grove (11-8-3) ended its season and its quest to make a deeper run in the playoffs. The Broncos, however, can take some consolation in setting school records in wins (11), fewest goals allowed in a season (39), and most shutouts (8).
“Overall it was another great season, but we still left some wins out there this year, but we continue to improve,” Union Grove soccer coach Sean Jung said.
Perhaps the biggest win left on the field came against Wauwatosa East.
Senior Max Wagner booted his 17th goal of the season on a cross from junior Cole Anderson at the 10-minute mark to make it 1-0 Broncos.
The Grove maintained its one-goal advantage for the next 30 minutes of the first half before East converted a corner kick to tie in the 40th minute.
Then just two minutes into the second half, East struck again on a redirection to make it 2-1.
The Broncos did all they could to turn up the pressure on East, but were unable to get a game-tying goal.
East then delivered the crucial blow with a goal in the 78th minute to make it 3-1. The Grove did not have an answer the rest of the way.
“We pressed for a tying goal,” Jung said. “And then we executed two set-pieces to perfection, but the first ended with a header right at the goalkeeper, and the second was a shot that was saved at the near post. It was a good match, fairly even, we just didn’t finish chances and they did.”
Jung and the Broncos now have the offseason to work on improving and figuring out how to take the next step as a program.
“We finished 11-8-3 overall and finished in the top half of the Southern Lakes Conference for just the second time in school history,” Jung said. “With the exception of our 5-0 loss to the number-one ranked team in Delavan-Darien, we were in every game. Now we just have to build on our successes and take another step.”
Only time will tell if the 2017 season will be the time the Broncos take the next step.
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