It’s a draw for rivals

Several key players out with injuries didn’t keep Grafton High School’s soccer team from ending the regular season with a blowout last Thursday.
The Black Hawks beat North Shore Conference opponent Slinger on the road, 5-0, to complete a 6-1-2 conference record, good for second place.
Claire Kosidowski scored unassisted in the 28th minute for the only goal in the first half.
Star Hailey Block scored in the 54th and 69 minutes, the second on an assist from Marie Weinhold.
Weinhold scored in the 70th minute from Block, and Koskidowski in the 81st minute from Block.
“We were very organized, swung the ball quickly through the back, got good movement from our forwards,” coach Don Arnold said. “We definitely played an all-around game against Slinger.”
Port Washington ended its regular season with a 5-0 defeat at powerhouse and conference champion Whitefish Bay (9-0).
The Pirates kept the Blue Dukes scoreless for 25 minutes and were only down, 1-0, at halftime.
“I was encouraged with our play.  We played a faster tempo, we had some legit chances to score and tested their keeper,” coach Eric Liebergen said.
Port finished 3-5-1 in the conference.
Port and Grafton battled to a 0-0 tie in Grafton on May 21.
Liebergen said Tess Schueler had two near misses, one shot that goalkeeper Corbin Woessner deflected but that still hit the post and another put back that bounced off a Black Hawk and then hit the cross bar.
Katie Tyree had a point-blank shot that Woessner saved.
Arnold credited Woessner for making big saves.
“Otherwise, we could have definitely walked out of there with a loss,” he said.
“It was one of those North Shore Conference games — you’re going to be in a battle.”
Liebergen said his goalkeeper Kaytlin Kassens made two impressive saves to keep the game scoreless. He praised the defensive play of Cami Melin, Lilly Clark, Madelyn Wehner, Ella Mueller, Ella Schmit and Bethany McKinney.
The two rivals may face off again if playoff seeds hold. No. 3-seeded Grafton hosts No. 14 St. Anthony and No. 6-seeded Port hosts No. 11 Wisconsin Lutheran, both at 7 p.m. Thursday. The winners play at 7 p.m. Saturday.