The Kickoff: Monday, Aug. 19
Your roundup of soccer news across Wisconsin and beyond
Top of the box
Today’s a big day for high school boys soccer players across Wisconsin, as 284 teams start practices for the 2024 season dreaming of the ultimate goal: To be among the four teams crowned as WIAA state champions 83 days from now at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee. The first regular-season games are Aug. 27.
High school
2024 WIAA boys soccer key dates
Earliest day for practices: Today
Earliest day for games: Tuesday, Aug. 27
Regionals: Oct. 22 and 26 (Divisions 1 and 2); Oct. 22, 24 and 26 (Divisions 3 and 4)
Sectional semifinals: Thursday, Oct. 31
Sectional finals: Saturday, Nov. 2
43rd WIAA state tournament: Nov. 7-9 at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee
WIAA tournament assignments
Division 1 (pdf)
Division 2 (pdf)
Division 3 (pdf)
Division 4 (pdf)
College women
Sunday’s highlights
Marquette 1:1 Kansas City
Kansas City native Kate Gibson headed in a corner kick by fellow senior Alexa Maletis with 12 seconds left as the Golden Eagles (0-1-1) pulled out a late draw against the Roos at Valley Fields.
UW-Green Bay 0:0 North Dakota State
Sophomore goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart made six saves in her second career shutout for the Phoenix (0-1-1).
Abe Nelson, who most recently was the Oshkosh West girls coach, is the new assistant in the UW-Oshkosh women’s program. Nelson also has led the Mukwonago boys and Janesville Parker girls programs, been an assistant with the UW-Whitewater men’s program and the Mukwonago girls team, coached club soccer at Rock SC and Burlington United and is part of the Wisconsin Olympic Development Program coaching staff. Read the full news release
Professional
In England, Julia Roddar (UW) recently signed a two-year contract with the London City Lionesses of the Women’s Championship.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who has 13 caps for Sweden, most recently played two seasons with Hammarby IF in her homeland and won two trophies — the team won the 2022-2023 Svenska Cupen, then claimed their first Damallsvenskan (top division) championship in 38 years on the final day of the 2023 season.
Roddar has also played for Korsnäs IF, Kvarnsvedens IK and Göteborg FC in Sweden and the Washington Spirit in the NWSL.
Ethan Hoard (Racine Case/UW-Green Bay) drew a penalty for the second straight game, creating the opportunity that teammate Marky Hernandez converted to give the 10-man Northern Colorado Hailstorm the lead in the 80th minute Saturday night against host South Georgia in a USL League One match. The Tormenta, though, scored in the 8th minute of stoppage time to rescue a 1-1 draw.
In Sweden, Lukas Sunesson (Marquette) assisted Philip Hellqvist’s 58th-minute equalizer for Täby FK, but it wasn’t enough as host Athletic Eskilstuna pulled out a 3-2 victory in an Ettan Norra (third division) match Saturday.
In the Philippines, goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel (UW-Milwaukee) and forward Chandler McDaniel (UW-Milwaukee) recently joined Stallion Laguna FC, which appears to be building a strong roster for the upcoming PFF Women’s League season. The McDaniel sisters, who are both regulars for the Philippines women’s national team, played one game together with the Biñan-based club last year, when Stallion Laguna were outscored 62-3 as they lost all nine of their games in the 10-team league. Olivia McDaniel most recently was with Brazilian club Santos, while Chandler McDaniel played with FC Pinzgau Saalfelden in Austria and Dimas Escazú in Costa Rica this year. Their brother, Finn, plays for the Stallion Laguna men’s team and has two caps for the Philippines national team, while their father, Clint, coaches in the club.
Follow all the players with state ties playing professionally in the U.S. and around the world on our Wisconsin Players in the Pros chart. If we've missed anyone, email us at wisconsinsoccercentral@gmail.com or connect on social media.