The Kickoff: Monday, Sept. 9
Your roundup of soccer news across Wisconsin and beyond
Top of the box
It looks like it will be quite a battle for the USL League One Players’ Shield, awarded to the regular-season champion, and playoff seeding: The top seven teams are separated by just five points with either six or seven league matches remaining.
Forward Madison FC is in third place, one point behind leader Union Omaha and second-place Charlotte Independence — Omaha has played one fewer game than Charlotte and Madison, and the three teams immediately behind the Flamingos all have a game in hand on them that could pull them level on points.
FMFC extended its league unbeaten streak to four games Saturday night, getting goals from Juan Galindrez, Wolfgang Prentice and substitute Aiden Mesias to surge to a 3-1 victory over the Chattanooga Red Wolves after falling behind early. The win ended a run of three consecutive draws for the Flamingos.
Next up for Forward Madison is Wednesday’s USL Jägermeister Cup semifinal against Charlotte. It’s an early weeknight start, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. at Breese Stevens Field and streaming live on ESPN+.
Professional
Emma Jaskaniec (Menomonee Falls/UW) made her professional debut Sunday night, playing the final 27 minutes as host Spokane Zephyr tied Brooklyn FC 1-1 in a USL Super League match. Jaskaniec replaced former college teammate Natalie Viggiano (UW), who made her first start for the Zephyr (0-0-2).
Gotham FC manager Juan Carlos Amorós said Rose Lavelle (UW) wasn’t on the game-day roster for Sunday’s NWSL 2-1 win over the Houston Dash for precautionary reasons with the team facing a busy schedule, according to Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer. (X / Twitter)
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 let us know on social media.
College women
Sunday’s highlights
Central Michigan 0:1 UW-Green Bay
Senah Hanes (Neenah) scored the lone goal in the 78th minute off a pass from fellow freshman Laney Stark, and sophomore keeper Mallorie Benhart made five saves in her third clean sheet of the season as the Phoenix (2-3-1) topped the host Chippewas (1-4-1) in Mount Pleasant, Mich., for their second straight win. Hanes has scored three of Green Bay’s goals over the past two games, while Stark has assisted three of them.No. 9 Notre Dame 5:0 Marquette
Izzy Engle had a brace and fellow freshman Grace Restovich had three assists as the Fighting Irish (6-1-0) rolled past the Golden Eagles (1-5-1) in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame has outscored opponents 22-0 in a six-game winning streak since losing to Michigan State 2-1 in its season opener.Senior defender Addie Pauling (Appleton West) and freshman forward Katelyn Studebaker (Oregon) each scored their first career goal as No. 7 UW-La Crosse blanked Illinois Wesleyan 2-0 in River Forest, Ill. The Eagles have outscored opponents 16-1 through four matches.
Indiana overwhelmed NCAA Division III Lawrence 9-0 in Bloomington, Ind., in the Vikings’ first match against a Big Ten Conference opponent in program history. Freshman Layla Sirdah scored four goals for the Hoosiers (5-0-1), who outshot Lawrence 43-2. Junior goalkeeper Ella Lysne (La Crosse Central) made eight saves for the Vikings (2-2-0).
Recruiting updates
College men
Sunday’s highlights
Freshman Devin Wilkerson (La Crosse Central) scored in the 59th minute as UW-Stevens Point topped Concordia 1-0 for its first home victory in program history. A day earlier, Wilkerson also had the game-winning goal as the Pointers (2-0-2) blanked host Lakeland 2-0 in Plymouth for their inaugural win.
Nathan Donovan (Hazel Green) had a hat trick, and a penalty kick by fellow senior Sam Lynch (Verona) in the 79th minute proved to be the difference as No. 16 UW-Eau Claire outlasted host Aurora (Ill.) 5-4. It was the 50th victory for the Blugolds program and Casey Holm, who has a 50-11-4 record in four seasons.
Senior Jacob Mouille (Waunakee) scored in the 88th minute to lift UW-Whitewater over host Cornell in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Junior defender Zack Kristy had two assists for the Warhawks (3-0-1), who were playing their fourth game in six days.
Today’s NCAA Division I schedule
Bradley vs. UW-Green Bay, 11 a.m. (ESPN+💲)
No. 9 Northwestern vs. Marquette, 6 p.m. (B1G+💲)
Chicago State vs. UW-Milwaukee, 7 p.m. (NEC Front Row)
Recruiting updates
Youth clubs
Six Wisconsin girls players were recognized for their performances at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, which were held in late July in Reunion, Fla.
14U Girls
Best XI
GK Kamryn Knaub, North Shore United
D Alison Harder, North Shore United
M Madeline Hammes, North Shore United
F Mya Schroeder, North Shore United
Honorable mention
Avery Mantei, Elmbrook United
17U Girls
Honorable mention
Mya Hanson, Madison 56ers
International
UW teammates Ella Ottey and Jadea Collin and Canada will play reigning champion Spain in the Round of 16 at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday in Cali, Colombia. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. CT. Spain won all three of its matches to finish on top of Group C and hasn’t yet allowed a goal at the tournament.
High school boys
By the numbers: WisSports.net links
State record: Longest winning streaks
37: Whitefish Bay, 2016-2018
30: Milwaukee Marquette, 2010-2011
29: Delavan-Darien, 2014-2015
State record: Longest unbeaten streaks
54: Milwaukee Marquette, 2010-2012
48: Delavan-Darien, 2016-2017
45: Whitefish Bay, 2016-2018
35: Brookfield East, 2022-current
28: Fond du Lac, 2004
Longest active unbeaten streaks
35: Brookfield East (30-0-5)
22: Hudson (19-0-3)
17: Middleton (14-0-3)
13: Milwaukee Marquette (10-0-3)
11: Union Grove (10-0-1)
Note: Games that go to penalty kicks are officially recorded as ties
Includes data from the WSCA High School Record Book