Port, Grafton soccer players honored

As expected, nationally ranked Whitefish Bay took the bulk of the North Shore Conference girls’ soccer honors this season, but a few players from Port Washington and Grafton grabbed the coaches’ eyes as well.

Port’s three selections to the honorable mention team were led by junior defender and co-captain Bethany McKinney, voted the team’s most valuable player.

“She was the rock in back, played center back most of the year,” first-year coach Kyle Quintell said.

McKinney scored four goals on the season, with most well timed. She scored twice against Grafton and tied the game both times in what ended up being a 2-2 draw, and she scored on a penalty kick in a 3-2 loss to Cedarburg in the season opener.

The Pirates’ other two selections were their co-offensive players of the season.

Senior left wing and co-captain Tess Schueller scored three goals and had eight assists even as she battled injury for much of the season.

“She was awesome. She is a great leader,” Quintell said. “She was super good mentoring the younger players on our team.”

She was as impressive in the classroom.

Schueller scored a 32 on her ACT, Quintell said, was ranked fourth in her graduating class and was named a North Shore Scholar Athlete.

Sophomore attacking midfielder Meghan Zwicker scored nine goals and had one assist.

“She really surprised me. I knew when we had open gyms and contact days she was going to be an offensive threat for us,” Quintell said.

Six of Zwicker’s goals came in an 11-1 win over Oshkosh North in the first round of the playoffs.

In the next two years, Quintell said, “she’s going to be dangerous.”

For Grafton, senior midfielder and captain Isabella Rapp earned honorable mention recognition. She had three goals and two assists and was the team’s spark plug.

“She drew a lot of attention from the opponents. They knew that she was one of our go-to players offensively,” coach Don Arnold said.

“When she was on the field she was dangerous. She was able to create. Being able to attack defenders, she drew players to her, which opened up opportunities for us.”

Port and Grafton each finished 2-6-1 in the NSC and each won one playoff game. Port topped Oshkosh North, 11-1, and Grafton beat Kettle Moraine Lutheran, 2-1.

Cedarburg (6-3 NSC) beat Port in the regional final, 4-0, and Grafton lost to Shorewood, 3-0.

Port finished 4-8-1 overall. Grafton finished 5-7-1.