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 For the second straight week, the Madison 56ers had to deal with rain during their National Premier Soccer League match Saturday night.
But by the time thunderstorms hit Community Education Field in St. Michael, Minn., in the second half and led to a premature end to the game, the 56ers already were home and dry.
Jed Hohlbein (Middleton/UW) converted a penalty kick and Marquette forward Adam Lysak (Milton) doubled the lead minutes later as Madison blanked Minnesota Kings FC 2-0 in a Midwest Division game called after 55 minutes.
56ers coach Jim Launder said his team showed significant improvement from its performance in last Saturday's 2-2 draw with the Quad City Eagles.
"I thought we played much, much better," Launder said. "I thought in general, we made just a couple of technical errors and a couple of tactical errors. Whereas last week it was just a whole pile of them.
"I thought we had total control of the game. It could have been 5-0. Their goalkeeper made three absolutely brilliant saves."
Hohlbein, the team's all-time leading scorer, was a central figure in the 56ers' attack.
He had two great chances early that were snuffed out by the Kings FC goalkeeper before scoring the opener from the spot approximately 30 minutes into the game. Midfielder Andrew Wiedabach (Mequon Homestead) drew the penalty kick, as he was tackled from behind after dribbling into the box.
Hohlbein also played a role in the second goal about 6 minutes later. His initial shot was saved, but the rebound ended up at the feet of Lysak, who scored his second in as many matches on a drive from the top of the box.
"(Hohlbein) got off some good shots, he was very active," Launder said. "I thought Wiedabach had a good game, but maybe tried to overdo it a couple times. Once he simplified stuff, we just started clicking. I thought Trevor Banks had a really good game, just keeping it simple for us."
Launder also gave high marks to Carl Schneider (Madison La Follette), an incoming University of Wisconsin freshman who made his 56ers debut at right back. Schneider nearly made it 3-0 early in the second half when he got behind the Kings FC backline and was one-on-one with the keeper, but hit the post.
"I thought it was a done deal," Launder said of the sequence. "Five minutes later, it was a done deal anyway."
Officials delayed the match when the storms rolled in, then called it when a tornado warning was issued. Launder said the field already was heavy because of a storm earlier in the day and likely wouldn't have been playable after the second round of heavy rain.
UW-Parkside keeper Ryan Onwukwe had little to do in his first NPSL match for the 56ers. Kyle Dillman (Madison La Follette), who played last week, suffered a broken finger in the draw with the Eagles and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks, Launder said. UW's Max Jentsch (Hartland Arrowhead) likely will start Sunday afternoon's game against the St. Paul Twin Stars.
Player-assistant Henry Aiyenero started at center back for the second straight game, paired with UW's Colin Mani (Madison Edgewood). The 56ers continue to be without five central defenders because of injury.
MADISON 56ERS LINEUP: Ryan Onwukwe; David Kommavang, Henry Aiyenero, Colin Mani, Carl Schneider; Ryan Buda, Trevor Banks, Andrew Wiedabach; Adam Lysak, Jed Hohlbein, Derek Pitts.
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