The Kickoff: Wednesday, Aug. 14
Your roundup of soccer news across Wisconsin and beyond
Top of the box
Ethan Hoard (Racine Case/UW-Green Bay) and the Northern Colorado Hailstorm continue to thrive in the USL Jägermeister Cup. Hoard drew and converted a late penalty for his fifth goal of the new tournament to seal the Hailstorm’s 3-1 victory over the host Spokane Velocity on Tuesday night, a win that made Northern Colorado the first team to clinch a spot in the semifinals. Hoard is second in the tournament in goals and first with four assists — he’s been involved in nine goals; eight of the 12 teams haven’t even scored nine goals in cup play. The Hailstorm have 21 goals in their seven matches; only three other teams have 10 or more, led by Union Omaha’s 13. Hoard came on as a sub in the 65th minute, provided a key pass on Noah Powder’s 77th-minute goal and then scored himself in the 87th. Hoard has 10 goals and five assists in 21 appearances (15 starts) in all competitions in his first pro season.
Professional
The USL Super League, the new first-division women’s league, kicks off this weekend with six of the league’s eight teams in action. Emma Jaskaniec (Menomonee Falls/UW) is with the Spokane Zephyr and Eli Beard (Marquette) is playing for the Carolina Ascent. Tribal Football has an interview with Beard as part of its preview of the inaugural Super League season.
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 with us on socials.
Forward Madison FC plays host to first-place Charlotte Independence in a USL League One match tonight at Breese Stevens Field. A win would move the Flamingos to the top of the table with eight games left in what is looking like a four-team battle for the regular-season title. Forward got past the Independence 2-1 in a Jägermeister Cup match back on May 11 in North Carolina, but Charlotte has lost just once in their past 12 games in all competitions (6-1-5). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on the CBS Golazo Network and Paramount+.
College women
UW, which finished 14-5-4 overall last year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, was picked to finish sixth in the new-look, expanded 18-team Big Ten Conference. The Badgers, ranked 19th in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, open the season Thursday night at No. 3 BYU.
The Marquette women, heading into their first season under coach Chris Allen, were tied for ninth in the Big East Conference preseason coaches’ poll. The Golden Eagles kick off the season Thursday night at Colorado.
Thursday’s season openers
Illinois State vs. UW-Green Bay, 5 p.m. (ESPN+)
Xavier vs. UW-Milwaukee, 6 p.m.
BYU vs. UW, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Colorado vs. Marquette, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
High school boys
Includes data from the WSCA High School Record Book
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
32: Brookfield East, 2022-current
28: Fond du Lac, 2004
Longest active unbeaten streaks heading into 2024
32: Brookfield East (27-0-5)
20: Edgerton (16-0-4)
19: Hudson (16-0-3)
16: Somers Shoreland Lutheran (16-0-0)*
14: Middleton 14 (11-0-3)
* longest active winning streak
Note: Penalty kick shootout losses are officially recorded as ties
Amateur
Registration for the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is open for amateur teams until Monday, Aug. 26. These teams will play Open Division qualifying this fall, looking to earn spots in the tournament proper. Check out the requirements or register
The most recent Wisconsin team to enter open or local qualifying was Milwaukee’s United Serbians in 2017, but they forfeited their opening match. The last time a state team played in the Open Cup without earning their spot through either a league finish or via the USASA National Amateur Cup was the Madison Fire back in 2011.
Linking play
Hearing into Man City’s 115 alleged breaches to start next month (The Times)
Premier League to post near-live explanations of VAR decisions on X (The Times)
USA draws stunning viewership for Olympics Gold Medal Final (World Soccer Talk)
Lexington Sporting Club to join USL Championship for 2025 season (WKYT)
A youth sports giant took over city land. Neighbors are fighting back. (Washington Post)