Boys soccer preview: Goalkeeper Elian Haddock leads Whitefish Bay
Whitefish Bay’s boys soccer team — one of the elite sides in the Midwest — was ripping shots on goal during practice Friday. Blasts came from point-blank range, from outside the 18-yard box and from everywhere in between.
The Blue Dukes, who are expected to have one of the state’s top high-powered offenses this fall, are accustomed to finding the back of the net throughout this type of exercise. On this day, though, shot after shot was turned away.
Inside the net stood 6-foot-4, 200-pound man-child Elian Haddock. And Haddock, a first-team all-state keeper last year who has been named to the All-USA preseason boys soccer team, was making life miserable for his Blue Dukes’ teammates.
“Some guys started asking if they could switch sides,” Bay coach Robby Dubinski said. “No offense to any of the guys I’ve coached, but Elian is the best I’ve had in 15 years. He’s the total package.”
And how.
A year ago, Haddock posted a 15-2-1 record, a 0.33 goals-against average, notched 12 shutouts and led the Blue Dukes to their second straight WIAA Division 2 state title. This season, Haddock and Bay will try becoming the first team to win three consecutive D2 state titles.
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Bay, which has won five championships, has what many are calling its finest team ever. Five Blue Dukes are likely to play Division 1 soccer, the defense returns intact and the offense could be dynamic.
But the player who makes everything go is Haddock. The senior has a rare combination of size, athleticism, I.Q. and footwork, and the number of players that have gotten a ball past him is quite small.
“The first thing you notice about him is his size,” Marquette coach Steve Lawrence said of Haddock. “He has the makeup of a top-level keeper you see at the next levels, and when you add in his technical abilities, it makes him an all-around keeper without many flaws. You aren’t going to be able to get much in the air in the box against him.”
Haddock’s journey to Whitefish Bay High School was certainly a wild one.
Haddock’s father moved around often for work. Haddock was born in Saudi Arabia, developed his love for soccer as a 3- year-old in China, and also lived in both South Korea and Switzerland.
The Haddocks moved to the United States when Elian was 11. And the Blue Dukes are glad the family has established roots.
Not only is Haddock one of the top keepers in the country, he has a personality that’s contagious. Dubinski calls him “a goofball” and Haddock prides himself on keeping his teammates relaxed when things get tense.
“Whenever I step on the field, it just makes me so happy,” Haddock said. “I have so much energy, I want to just run around and have fun. We’re in the classroom so long most days, so when I get on the field, I don’t worry about anything but playing.”
Haddock’s work in the classroom is just as impressive as his performance on the field. Haddock carries a 4.034 grade point average and has been named to Bay’s high honor roll three years in a row. He will play collegiately at Yale beginning in 2018.
Haddock — who plans to study economics — had collegiate offers from Notre Dame, Brown and several other high-level schools.
“Think about that, passing up Brown and Notre Dame,” Dubinski said. “He’s an incredible kid. Yale’s getting a good one.”
Before Haddock becomes an Ivy Leaguer, he and the Blue Dukes have some business to take care of locally.
Bay senior forward Jackson Dryden, senior midfielder Matthew Comiskey and senior defenseman Shawn Azcueta were all named all-state a year ago. Overall, the Blue Dukes have seven returnees that were named all-North Shore Conference.
The road to the Division 2 state title runs through Whitefish Bay. And with Haddock serving as the last line of defense, getting past the Blue Dukes might be the toughest task in the state.
“Personally, I think we have the best team in the state,” Haddock said. “We have a lot of strong players coming back, a lot of strong kids overall. We all expect to have a great year.”
Thanks in large part to a great keeper.