|
 Colin Mani (Madison Edgewood) and Henry Aiyenero are an unlikely center back pairing for the Madison 56ers.
But the University of Wisconsin player and the 37-year-old player-coach who is better known for his attacking skills did well last weekend, helping the 56ers post a pair of clean sheets.
They figure to get the call once again Saturday when the Chicago Fire visits Breese Stevens Field for a National Premier Soccer League Midwest Division match. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
"They've been doing a good job," Madison coach Jim Launder said of Mani and Aiyenero. "Henry's not a center back. Colin can actually play there quite well."
Mani was a midfielder during his high school career, and has steadily earned more playing time with the the Badgers – he's played in 33 matches (eight starts) over the past two seasons.
"He's calm with the ball, which I like in defenders, and doesn't give away stupid passes," Launder said of Mani. "He always used to look so worried that he'd go in hard on everything. Now he's just calmer. And his attitude is different in general. ... He's done quite well."
The unique pairing continues to be necessary because five other center backs are injured for the 56ers (2-0-2 overall, 2-0-1 NPSL Midwest).
Launder said that Sean Ronnekleiv-Kelly, an All-NPSL Midwest performer last season, might be able to return from a lingering groin injury for next Saturday's match at Eau Claire Aris FC.
UW-Green Bay's Andrew Stone (Green Bay Preble) returned to training during the week, but had a recurrence of his knee injury. Marquette's Paul Monsen (Stoughton) has yet to return to training after suffering a severely sprained ankle, and UW's Arnel Zahirovic continues to be sidelined by a knee injury.
Launder said that veteran Hunter Martin (Madison West) likely is out for the season with a torn meniscus in his knee.
Looking at the lineup
Launder will have to make a few lineup changes Saturday night against the Fire (0-1-0).
Incoming UW freshman Carl Schneider (Madison La Follette), who started both matches last weekend at right back, is playing with his Madison 56ers Under-18 team at the Wisconsin State Championships in Appleton. UWGB forward Sam Krenzien (Wauwatosa West) and midfielder-defender Aaron Nichols (UW) also are out of town for personal reasons.
On the plus side, midfielder Keith Dangarembwa – an All-NPSL Midwest pick in 2009 – returned to the team, and midfielder Keenan Newallo (shoulder) and defender Aymar Sinaise also could be available.
"We've got enough good players, we should be OK," Launder said.
One tough decision for Launder is whether UW's Max Jentsch (Hartland Arrowhead) or UW-Parkside's Ryan Onwukwe will get the call. Kyle Dillman (Madison La Follette) is still out with a broken finger.
"They've both been playing really well," Launder said. "It's like flipping a coin with these guys."
-
Potential starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Jentsch or Onwukwe; Ryan Buda-Aiyenero-Mani-Derek Pitts; Luke Goodnetter or Dangarembwa-Trevor Banks; David Kommavang-Andrew Wiedabach-Adam Lysak; Jed Hohlbein.
Open Cup details coming soon
The 56ers should learn the opponent and location for their first-round match in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup sometime in the next week.
General manager Charles Billings said the team would submit a bid to play host to a match, but he wasn't optimistic about landing a home game considering Breese Stevens doesn't have a press box.
The first round of the 98th U.S. Open Cup is Tuesday, June 14, with 32 teams from the NPSL, USL PRO and United States Adult Soccer Association playing regional matchups.
The 16 first-round winners will meet in the second round June 21, and the eight teams that advance to the third round will play Major League Soccer opponents on June 28. The quarterfinals are July 12, with the semifinals on Aug. 30 and the final set for Oct. 4.
The 56ers have have played in the tournament four times, all before Major League Soccer started. They lost in the Region II semifinals in 1988, '89 and '90, and were ousted by Illinois' RWB Adria 7-6 on penalty kicks following a 4-4 tie in the 1991 quarterfinals.
|
