Wisconsin Soccer Central

Five state players were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Great Lakes Region team for their efforts this fall.

Milwaukee Marquette's Alec Philippe and Hartland Arrowhead's Blake Carr, forwards who were named the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Co-Players of the Year, head up the quintet of seniors who earned regional honors. They were joined by Madison Memorial midfielder Dominick Mesdjian, Pewaukee forward Griffin Jende and Whitefish Bay forward Evan Conway.

Four of the players are set to play college soccer in the state: Carr and Mesdjian have verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin, Jende is a Marquette University recruit and Conway has committed to UW-Milwaukee. Philippe hasn't yet made a college decision.

Carr scored a program-record 54 goals and added 14 assists in his only season of prep soccer at Arrowhead, which advanced to the WIAA Division 1 state final before a 5-2 loss to Marquette. Philippe, who had three assists in the championship game as the Hilltoppers (19-2-0) won their second straight title, had 27 goals and 12 assists this season and 54 goals and 21 assists in his two-year varsity career.

Mesdjian recorded 10 goals and 13 assists for the Spartans this fall and had 21 goals and 29 assists in his high school career. Jende racked up 32 goals and 18 assists for the Pirates this season and leaves Pewaukee with program records for career goals (90) and assists (45). And Conway helped lead the Blue Dukes (23-2-1) to the Division 2 state title, scoring a team-high 25 goals to go along with four assists.

• After state coaching icon Harry Kelderman announced his retirement last week after 36 years in charge of the highly successful Neenah program, the school didn't even have to look outside the building to find his successor. Nate Werner (Appleton West/UW-Green Bay), who is in third year as the school's activities director, will take over the Rockets next season. “Although it will be difficult to follow a coaching legend, I was lucky to work with Coach Kelderman the past three seasons," Werner said in a news release. "He taught me so much about the game of soccer over the years and I hope to continue the success he achieved.” Werner has coached several prep teams in the Fox Valley, leading the Appleton Xavier boys from 2003 to '05, the Appleton East girls from 2005 to '10 and the Appleton North boys from 2006 to '12. He coached Xavier to WIAA Division 2 state titles in 2003 and guided North to the Division 1 state final in 2010. "You don’t easily replace someone like Harry Kelderman, but we are fortunate to have one of the best soccer coaches in the Fox Valley right here in our own building,” Neenah principal Brian Wunderlich said. “He is the ideal person to step in and lead our storied program.”
• Archived streams of all 12 matches from last month's state tournament, in addition to several other games from the regular season and playoffs, are available on demand at no charge through the WIAA's channel on the NFHS Network. An NFHS membership, which is free, is required to watch the streams. WIAA channel