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 After playing – or attempting to play – matches four times in six days last week, the Madison 56ers were able to return to a normal schedule this week.
One of coach Jim Launder's main tasks during the squad's three training sessions was to try to keep his team from being overconfident heading into Saturday night's game against Eau Claire Aris FC at Breese Stevens Field.
After all, the last time the teams met, the 56ers matched their National Premier Soccer League record for goals in a 9-0 rout of Aris on June 4 in Eau Claire. They first set the mark in a 9-1 win over Aris last year.
Launder used a few examples during the practices to point out how quickly results can change, but acknowledged he was concerned about his players' attitudes heading into the match.
"Yeah, especially because I don't think (Aris is) that bad," he said. "We were hot and they were not clicking."
Aris (1-5-2) is in last place in the seven-team Midwest, but played the division-leading Milwaukee Bavarians to a 1-1 draw and beat and tied Minnesota Kings FC. They have one of the Midwest's top goalkeepers in Troy Osborne, an Australian who drew praise from Launder for some outstanding stops in the teams' first meeting despite the score.
"If he gets hot and we're not ...," Launder said of Osborne.
The 56ers (4-3-2) can't afford to be off their game the rest of the season. They're six points behind the Bavarians (6-1-2) with three matches remaining, with only a slim hope of repeating as Midwest champions.
"You never know what could happen," Launder said. "But I know one thing: We've got to win all our games from now on. There's no question there. We have to win them all and then we have to hope for help."
And this weekend they'll have to do it with a depleted roster.
Four players who started matches last week are out with injuries: University of Wisconsin defender Colin Mani (Madison Edgewood), UW forward Josh Thiermann (Stoughton), midfielder Keenan Newallo and Marquette forward Adam Lysak (Milton). Leading scorer Jed Hohlbein (Middleton/UW) has a calf injury and might not play.
The most serious of those injuries is Newallo's knee, as Launder said he might have MCL damage. But the loss of Mani to a sprained ankle and fellow UW center back Arnel Zahirovic figures to have the biggest impact on the lineup.
Player-coach Henry Aiyenero played as a central defender earlier in the season, but he'll be needed in the midfield Saturday as starter Trevor Banks (Madison Memorial) isn't available because of work obligations – Banks is set to play Sunday against the Chicago Fire in Bridgeview, Ill.
Launder said he likely will shift incoming UW freshman Carl Schneider (Madison La Follette) to the middle, where he played in high school, to team with veteran Sean Ronnekleiv-Kelly. UW's Derek Pitts (Middleton) then would step in for Schneider at left back.
One player Launder is happy to have back is midfielder-forward Anthony Santaga (Green Bay Notre Dame).
Santaga, who is transferring from UW-Green Bay to Hartford this fall to continue playing for former Phoenix coach Tom Poitras, was away from the 56ers the past two weeks. He played with the Croatian Eagles Under-23 team at the U.S. Adult Soccer Association Region II tournament in Kansas, then was with the FC Green Bay Orange Under-19 team at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships in Appleton and De Pere.
Launder said Santaga looked great in training this week and paid him a tremendous compliment.
"He's very quick, he's very good at bumping balls on. Very good in the air – he's like (Brian) McBride-like in the air," said Launder, who coached the legendary U.S. national team striker when he was an assistant with Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew. "He's really good, he's got great timing and he's starting to get springs."
Possible Saturday lineup: GK Kyle Dillman; D Derek Pitts, D Sean Ronnekleiv-Kelly, D Carl Schneider, D Aaron Nichols; M Henry Aiyenero, M Keith Dangarembwa; M Anthony Santaga or Carlos McCrary, M Andrew Wiedabach, M Cody Banks; F Jed Hohlbein, Sam Krenzien or Santaga.
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