Top kickers take it to Port, Grafton in soccer

The Port Washington High School girls’ soccer team got run over by one of the best North Shore Conference teams and another that’s ranked in the country.

A thin Grafton team didn’t fare better, running out of gas when injuries took their toll in two losses.

On May 18, Port lost, 5-1, at Homestead, which stands in third place in the NSC

The Pirates took a lead eight minutes into the game on a Meghan Zwicker goal.

Senior Tess Schueller beat the Highlanders’ right back defender and, before the center back could make come up for a tackle, crossed it into the 18. Zwicker took the shot from the penalty kick area, and the ball sailed into the back of the net.

The Highlanders fought back to take a 3-1 lead by halftime and added two more scores in the second half.

Coach Kyle Quintell praised Zwicker, who had come off of quarantine. She can  handle center midfield, play out wide and on top.

“She’s just a versatile, talented player who is going to be on the rise,” he said.

He also lauded junior Ella Mueller, who held one of Homestead’s best players, Sophia King, to one goal and one assist, “which I was super proud of,” Quintell said.

Last Thursday, the Pirates hosted nationally ranked Whitefish Bay — also ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 2 ­­— and the 10-0 final in 60 minutes showed the Blue Dukes’ skill advantage.

“They’ve got a lot of lot of talent on that team. All those girls pretty much play year-round club with each other,” Quintell said.

Mueller knows several of the Blue Dukes since she plays high-level club ball with them.

“It’s just good to play higher competition. You’re going to learn about yourselves,” Quintell said.

“The girls kind of knew what we were going up against. We know that when we play those good teams we’ve just got to play our best and we work on what we need to work on during training.

Port, 1-3 in the NSC and 2-4-1 overall, was to play at Hartford (3-2 NSC) on Tuesday and host Slinger (2-3) at 7 p.m. Thursday. Port plays at Nicolet (3-2) on Tuesday, June 1, before closing out the regular season against West Bend West (0-5) at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 3.

Grafton tries to heal up

Injuries have taken a toll on the Black Hawks, which have 27 players in their program.

The Hawks lost to Slinger, 5-1, on May 18.

They were down, 3-0, at halftime but never gave up. In the 79th minute, senior Cora Danielson broke through with a free kick from more than 20 yards out on a sharp angle. Danielson shot it to the back post; the

Owls’ goalkeeper never got a finger on it.

“It just shows they’re fighting. They’re not giving up, which shows a lot of character and what they’re made of,” coach Don Arnold said.

Last Thursday, the Hawks played Nicolet on the big field at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.

The Hawks would love to return there for the state tournament, but competing on a larger field than they’re accustomed to when shorthanded against a top opponent wasn’t a recipe for delicious main dish, but senior Emily Schulte devoured some leftovers.

Nicolet prevailed, 5-1.

In the 80th minute, Danielson popped a corner kick into a crowd. After little touches by a couple of players, Schulte “jus came in and cleaned up the scraps,” Arnold said.

Watching Schulte go on the attack “was nice to see,” he said.

Arnold praised Danielson at center back for keeping things organized, and said senior forward Marie Weinhold is “just relentless out there with her work.”

The entire team, he said, is pushing hard.

The Hawks, 0-4-1 in the NSC, 2-4-1 overall, were to host West Bend West on Tuesday, play at West Bend East (1-4 NSC) on Thursday, host Homestead (4-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, and close the regular season at Whitefish Bay on Thursday, June 3.