The Kickoff: Tuesday, Sept. 10
Your roundup of soccer news across Wisconsin and beyond
Top of the box
It’s been a decade since the UW-Green Bay women’s soccer team had a Horizon League Player of the Week. On Monday, the Phoenix had not just one such honoree, but two.
Freshman forward Senah Hanes (Neenah) was the Offensive Player of the Week and sophomore goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart was the Defensive Player of the Week after they helped Green Bay put together its first winning streak in two years.
The Phoenix beat Western Illinois 5-0 and Central Michigan 1-0, with Hanes scoring three of the goals and Benhart posting clean sheets in each match.
It’s the first time the Phoenix have swept the weekly league awards. Before Monday, the most recent UWGB player to earn a Horizon weekly honor was goalkeeper Nastacia Behle, back on Oct. 27, 2014.
High school boys
There’s a big early season match in the Greater Metro Conference tonight as Brookfield East (3-0-0 overall, 1-0-0 GMC) plays host to Milwaukee Marquette (2-0-1, 1-0-0). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Brookfield East beat the Hilltoppers 2-1 last September and went on to win the conference title, ending Marquette’s 12-year run atop the league. The Spartans come in tonight riding a 35-game unbeaten streak, while Marquette hasn’t lost in 13 games and has only lost nine games to Wisconsin teams over the past 15 years (207-9-12).
The Hilltoppers were ranked second overall and in Division 1 in the first Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association polls of the season last week, while Brookfield East was third in both polls. (New WSCA polls generally are released on Tuesdays, so those rankings could change before tonight’s kickoff.)
By the numbers: WisSports.net links
Longest active unbeaten streaks
35: Brookfield East (30-0-5)
23: Hudson (20-0-3)
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
College men
The UW men’s team vaulted up the Top Drawer Soccer national rankings, checking in at No. 7 this week after being 25th last week.
Through Sunday, UW freshman Dean Boltz was tied for the NCAA Division I lead with seven goals on the season, while the Badgers’ 16 goals were tied for second in the nation and their average of 3.20 goals per game was tied for sixth.
Monday’s highlights
Bradley 1:2 UW-Green Bay
Senior Kolton Prater (Hudson) scored from 27 yards out in the 82nd minute as the Phoenix (4-2-0) got past the host Braves (3-2-1) in Peoria, Ill., for their fourth straight win. Prater had one goal over 46 appearances in his first three college seasons, but doubled that total in four days — he had the lone goal in Friday’s 1-0 win over Chicago State. Chris Album scored the opener for Green Bay. Freshman midfielder Isiah Flores intercepted a pass and played in Album, who beat a defender and fired past Bradley senior goalkeeper Alex Grow (Milwaukee Marquette) from the top of the box for his second goal in three games. UWGB senior Alvaro Rodriguez made four saves.Chicago State 0:3 UW-Milwaukee
Junior Alejandro Martinez had his second brace of the season as the Panthers (2-0-2) breezed past the 10-man Cougars (1-5-0) in Chicago. Martinez, a transfer from UW-Parkside, scored in the 16th and 38th minutes and freshman defender Pascal Leatherman added his first career goal in the 40th. Martinez has scored or assisted five of the Panthers’ seven goals this season. Chicago State played down a man in the second half after Jose Ibarra’s red card just before halftime.No. 9 Northwestern 1:0 Marquette
Nigel Prince headed in a corner kick in the 84th minute lifted the host Wildcats (5-1-0) over the Golden Eagles (3-2-0) in Evanston, Ill. Marquette outshot Northwestern 12-11, but put only two of those shots on goal as it was held scoreless for the second straight match.Sophomore Anthony Vogt (Elkhorn) and freshman Santiago Gomez scored in a 2-minute span early in the second half, and freshman keeper David Staats made 13 saves as host Beloit (1-4-0) held off Lakeland 2-1 for its first win of the season.
This week’s NCAA Division I schedule
Thursday's game
Marquette vs. Edgewood, 7:30 p.m. (FloFC💲)
Friday's game
Maryland vs. UW, 6:30 p.m. (B1G+💲)
Saturday's games
UW-Green Bay vs. Detroit Mercy, 1 p.m. (ESPN+💲)
UW-Milwaukee vs. Wright State, 1 p.m.
Sunday's game
Illinois-Chicago vs. Marquette, 7 p.m.
Recruiting updates
College women
Through Sunday, UW senior Aryssa Mahrt (Wauwatosa) was tied for third in the Big Ten Conference and tied for 11th in NCAA Division I with six goals.
This week’s NCAA Division I schedule
Thursday's games
Drake vs. UW-Green Bay, 1 p.m. (ESPN+💲)
Marquette vs. Mercyhurst, 5 p.m. (FloFC💲)
UW vs. Rutgers, 7 p.m. (B1G+💲)
UW-Milwaukee vs. Harvard, 7 p.m. (ESPN+💲)
Sunday's game
Marquette vs. UW-Milwaukee, 4 p.m. (FloFC💲)