Hawks Finish Strong Against NSC Foe (8-29-06)
GRAFTON - After a disappointing fourth place finish this past weekend in the Mukwonago Invite, the Grafton Black Hawks came home to the friendly confines of the John Bleise Athletic Complex under the lights for the first home game of the season. It was also the North Shore Conference opener for both Grafton and the Nicolet Knights. In front of a near capacity crowd, the Black Hawks roared out to a fast start, dominating the first 20 minutes of the game. However, Grafton was unable to finish many of their prime opportunities, and then the game would see a vast change in momentum. In the 21st minute, the Knights would record the first tally of the game when Cyrus Karshenas finished an unassisted goal that just tipped off of the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Matt King, making it 1-0 Nicolet. The Knights would control the final 20 minutes of the first half, all the way to the halftime whistle. After words of wisdom from head coach Don Arnold, the Hawks came out flying. In the 41st minute of the game, senior Brian Galbraith recorded his 2nd goal of the season on an assist from fellow senior Spencer Bursten to tie the game at 1-1. Then, 11 minutes later, Grafton would grab the lead for good when Corby Oleson played a magnificent ball across the box to midfielder Miles Mayer, who finished it off for his first career varsity goal and a 2-1 Black Hawk lead. The relentless Grafton offense continued on, and in the 65th minute Bursten played a ball across the goal and was deflected by a Nicolet player into the goal for an own goal and 3-1 Grafton lead. The Knights would not lie down, however. With just seven minutes remaining in the game, Nicolet would get an unassisted goal from Gavin Kobertson to make the score 3-2. But it was Spencer Bursten taking control only a minute later, with an absolutly ridiculous shot from the far corner into the goal far post in the side netting. That would be the nail in the Knights coffin and clinch Grafton's first conference win the season. Miles Mayer collided heads with a Nicolet Knights player and was in a daze for the last part of the game. He would leave the field and recieved attention from Athletic Trainer Suzy Durst. Updates will be posted when they become available. Next up for Grafton are the University School Wildcats in a non-conference game and the final game of suspensions for Skyler Van Sluys, Nick Vahsholtz, and Pat Wallace. The game kicks off at 7:00 pm on Thursday down in River Hills.
