Pirates’ kickers catch fire, win four straight

After not winning a game in its first four tries, the Port Washington High School girls’ soccer team won every one of its last quartet.

The fourth came Saturday morning at home against Luxemburg-Casco, and it didn’t take long to get on the board in a 3-0 win.

Sophomore Sydney White took a corner kick that senior Payton Wysocki headed in barely two minutes into the game.

“I’m just supposed to be marking the keeper, but I happened to be in the right place at the right time and got a head on it. It was good,” Wysocki said.

Port added two more goals in the first half.

Senior Mia Blum popped one in from about 20 yards over the Spartans’ keeper in the 25th minute. Ally Schlehlein got the assist.

“We’ve been watching a little bit of film on this team. We knew their defense and goalie a little bit. We knew we were needing to shoot high, not go low, because she’s pretty good on the ground. I just kept that in mind when I was shooting.,” Blum said.

Senior Madi Uselding fired a 40-yard shot that sailed just over the outstretched fingers of the keeper in the 36th minute.

“I used to take corner kicks so I have experience there. As soon as it got placed I looked at Kam (Knaub) to see if she was taking it, and she was like no, Madi go. I put it in the air and it went. It was pretty exciting. Everyone jumped up,” she said.

She was trying to score, but putting the ball in the box for a teammate was the alternate objective.

“I was just kind of shooting it up there and hoping for the best,” Uselding said.

Blum said the team’s camaraderie picked up since the start of the season, and Port is now on track.

“Lots of new girls this year. The chemistry of the team just had to click a little bit. I think that helped us a lot,” she said.

Uselding and Wysocki said the transition from defense to offense has been a key in the winning streak.

“We’re doing a really good job building out of the back half getting it up there. I think we just need to work on finishing a little more and we should be good,” Wysocki said.

“We like to drop it back and rework it up to the front. I think that really helps us because we build up and then take a shot,” Uselding said.

Coach Sandy Bennett praised the work of her captains — Blum, Uselding and Libby Holmes.

“They have truly set the tone for the team this season, not just their performance during the games, but with the leadership they show every day,” she said. “On the field, they lead by example with their work ethic, communication, and composure in big-pressure moments, helping keep the team focused and confident.”

Port won, 4-0, at Sheboygan South last Thursday. Schlehlein and Holmes each had two goals. Samantha Navigato had two assists. Ava Mueller had one. Knaub had two saves.

Port beat Kewaskum, 2-0, at home on April 28. Schlehlein and Charlotte O’Brien scored. Holmes had two assists. Knaub had two saves.

Port started the streak on April 23 with a 1-0 win at West Bend Co-op. O’Brien scored.

Port, 4-2-2, was to host Plymouth on Tuesday, May 5. Port hosts Grafton on Friday, May 8, and plays at Kettle Moraine Lutheran on Tuesday, May 12.