RIVALRY GAME GOES GRAFTON'S WAY...AGAIN
PLYMOUTH - Coming off a 6-0 demolition of the Milwaukee Lutheran Red Knights on Tuesday night, the Grafton Black Hawks traveled up Highway 57 to take on the rival Panthers from Plymouth High School. The field and conditions would be almost identical to where the Black Hawks season ended last year with a 2-1 loss at the hands of eventual Division 2 State Champion Slinger. This time out, it would be the same two teams that have met twice in the past three years. In 2003 it was the sectional semi-final played at Grafton where these same two teams squared off to a 2-2 for most of the game until freshman Brian Galbraith would score the game winner with just 5 seconds remaining. In 2004, it was again these same two teams at Grafton in another sectional semi-final, but this time it was complete domination by the Black Hawks, winning the match 3-0 behind dominating performances by Galbraith and Craig Carlson. This time around, the Panthers are Division 1 and it is just a regular season match-up, but still both sides were eager for a victory. Things started out well for Grafton, who had many early chances to score, including a golden opportunity for senior Kevin Carlson that just sailed high of the mark. Things would slowly fade and become somewhat sloppy for the Hawks, however, later in the half and the Panthers would get on the board first when in the 26th minute Casey Schmidt finished far post against junior goalkeeper Matt King, giving Plymouth the 1-0 lead. That would remain the score through half-time and three minutes after. In the 43rd minute, a beautiful build up resulted in senior Spencer Bursten playing a magnificent ball across to Galbraith, a fellow senior captain, who finished well with his head right past the goalkeeper. With the score tied at 1-1, Galbraith and Hawks would not be finished yet. In the 56th minute it was Galbraith again with a finish, this time from Carlson, giving Grafton the lead for good at 2-1. The win improved the Hawks overall record to 5-3. Grafton's four game winning streak will be seriously contested Tuesday night at home in a North Shore Conference battle with powerhouse Homestead. The game kicks off at 7:00 pm under the lights of the John Bleise Athletic Complex.
