The Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 8
Your roundup of soccer news across Wisconsin and beyond
Top of the box
It took Esmir Bajraktarević (Appleton) just 5 minutes to make an impact in his first appearance for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team Saturday.
After entering the UEFA Nations League match against the Netherlands in the 68th minute, the 19-year-old played a long cross from the right sideline over a defender to set up Edin Džeko’s goal in the 73rd. The goal pulled Bosnia and Herzegovina within one, but the Dutch scored two late insurance goals for a 5-2 win in Eindhoven.
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Bajraktarević played for U.S. youth national teams, and made his debut for the full national team in a friendly against Slovenia in January. But the New England Revolution midfielder recently switched his international allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina — his parents were both born in Bosnia before fleeing the country during the Bosnian War in the early 1990s and settling in Appleton.
The Dragons continue Nations League League A Group C play on Wednesday at home against Germany in Zenica. Kickoff is set for 1:45 p.m. CT.
Professional
Evan Conway (Whitefish Bay/UW-Milwaukee) scored his ninth goal of the season to finish off a four-goal first half as host North Carolina FC cruised past the Oakland Roots 5-0 in a USL Championship match Saturday. Conway is tied for ninth in the league in goals.
Nick Markanich, who played for the Green Bay Voyageurs in USL League Two and in several friendlies for Forward Madison FC, tied the USL Championship record for goals in a season with his 25th as the host Charleston Battery edged Sacramento Republic 2-1. Markanich, who will be transferred to Spanish second division club CD Castellón after the season, equaled the mark set by Louisville City FC’s Cameron Lancaster in 2018 and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks’ Hadji Barry in 2021. The Battery have six league matches remaining.
Ethan Hoard (Racine Case/UW-Green Bay) had an assist as the Northern Colorado Hailstorm extended their unbeaten streak to eight games in all competitions with a 5-1 rout of visiting Lexington SC in USL League One match.
Neither of the teams with players with Wisconsin ties advanced to the second round of UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying.
Rashida Beal (Germantown) played all 90 minutes at center back as host FC Gintra lost to Scottish club Celtic 2-0 in the Champions Path Group 3 final Saturday in Šiauliai, Lithuania.
UW-Milwaukee alums McKaela Schmelzer and Brooke Parnello started on the backline and fellow former Panther Clara Broecker came off the bench in the 25th minute as WFC BIIK-Shymkent fell to Turkish club Galatasaray 5-0 in the Champions Path Group 8 final Saturday in Luxembourg.
In Sweden, Lukas Sunesson (Marquette) scored his 11th goal of the season to give Täby FK a two-goal lead, but host Karlbergs BK rallied for a 2-2 tie in an Ettan Norra (third division) match Saturday. The point took Täby off the foot of the table, one point ahead of Friska Viljor. With nine games remaining, Täby is four points from safety and three points from the relegation playoff spot. Sunesson, 25, is tied for fourth in the league in goals.
In Norway, Vuk Latinovich (Brookfield Central/UW-Milwaukee) recently signed with Sandnes Ulf, which is in last place in the 16-team OBOS-ligaen (second division). The 26-year-old Latinovich most recently played with GS Ilioupolis in the Greek second division, and also has played for New York City FC in MLS and FCI Levadia in Estonia. Sandnes Ulf (3W-14L-4D) is seven points from the relegation playoff spot and eight points from safety with nine matches left.
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
Today’s NCAA Division I schedule
No. 9 Notre Dame vs. Marquette, 11:30 a.m. (ESPN+💲)
Central Michigan vs. UW-Green Bay, noon (Chippewas All-Access)
Recruiting updates
College men
Recruiting updates
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