Posted: Jan. 20, 2010 |(0) Comments

There was no denying the up-top strength that led the Whitefish Bay boys soccer team to the North Shore Conference title and a WIAA sectional finals berth this past fall.

And a lot of that talent will be on display at the second annual NOW Newspapers/Milwaukee Wave Indoor Senior All-Star game to be held Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Arena after the Wave's 6 p.m. contest with the Baltimore Blast.

Such was the Blue Dukes' talent level, that they have even more players representing them at this contest than even Division I state champion Muskego (three).

Forward Robert Courtney was first-team all-state, midfielder Charlie Hoover was second-team, while defender Luke Davey was honorable mention and fellow defender Kevin Brown was an All-North Shore Conference selection for Bay.

"We were a top-heavy team, no doubt," said Blue Dukes coach Mike Kops. "We had kids who could perform in big games."

Courtney, who was one of the top finishers in the state, was one of those.

"He had a lot of big goals for us," Kops said. "He scored goals in important games against great teams and we had a brutally difficult schedule. He scored goals in every conceivable fashion."

Wheaton College (Ill.) is among the schools Courtney's considering for next fall.

Meanwhile, Hoover was Courtney's primary assist man. Hoover, a two-time, first-team All-North Shore selection, who will play at Marquette next fall, was what Kops called a "maestro of the midfield."

"He could just control the whole section (of the field)," Kops said. "We took that road trip (to Missouri) and we were playing against a top 10 nationally-ranked team from there and there was no doubt that he was the best player on the field that game."

Davey, who's also a high-caliber wrestler for the resurgent Blue Dukes team this winter, was another all-conference selection. He will likely go to UW-Milwaukee.

"Just a rock-solid guy," said Kops. "He's got that wrestling mentality. He's strong, with an excellent work ethic, very blue-collar."

Meanwhile, Brown represented the adaptability that made the Blue Dukes a success this past fall.

"He started out as a center-midfielder for us," said Kops, "and we moved him to the backline (defender) position mid-season. Had we done that to start the season, he would have been first-team all-state.

"We just didn't know that he'd blossom so quickly (on defense). He was just so strong on balls in the air."

 

- Steven L. Tietz

All-Star roster

Four Whitefish Bay Blue Dukes to play on East squad

WHAT: Robert Courtney, Charlie Hoover, Luke Davey and Kevin Brown will compete on an East squad that features players from Homestead, Shorewood, Nicolet, Oak Creek, Wauwatosa, Whitnall and Greendale. They will be matched up against a West team that includes athletes from Muskego, Brookfield, West Allis, Germantown, New Berlin and Menomonee Falls.

WHEN: Saturday, following the 6 p.m. Milwaukee Wave game

WHERE: U.S. Cellular Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn Ave., Milwaukee

TICKETS: Visit MilwaukeeWave.com.