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 In a match that mirrored their season, the Madison 56ers had their chances to beat the Chicago Fire on Sunday, but couldn't quite get it done.
Midfielder Trevor Banks (Madison Memorial) and Hartford midfielder Anthony Santaga (Green Bay Notre Dame) scored equalizers in each half as the 56ers tied the Fire 2-2 in Cary, Ill., essentially eliminating Madison from contention in the National Premier Soccer League Midwest Division.
The 56ers (7-4-4 overall, 5-3-3 NPSL Midwest) are two points behind the Milwaukee Bavarians (6-1-2), but Madison has just one league match left: against the Bavarians on July 16 at Breese Stevens Field.
The Quad City Eagles (3-1-5) and St. Paul Twin Stars (4-4-1) also can finish with more points than the 56ers, who would need an incredibly unlikely series of upsets to repeat as division champions. Regardless of other results, the Bavarians can clinch their first NPSL Midwest title by taking four points from their final three matches.
"We pounded them for a while, but just couldn't get another goal," Launder said. "We were creating chances, and in the second half we weren't giving them many at all. We were doing what we wanted, except for our finishing."
Chicago (2-4-3) took the early lead before Banks tied it up, but the Fire went ahead again before halftime. Santaga pulled the 56ers even once again midway through the second half, but that's how it finished.
Madison had several opportunities to find a third goal.
Leading scorer Jed Hohlbein (Middleton/UW) shook free at the far post and got a good cross from UW-Milwaukee midfielder Cody Banks (Madison Memorial), but headed the ball wide. Then in the final minutes, Santaga hit the post off a rebound of a shot by Hohlbein. And Trevor Banks had one close-range shot blocked by a defender and saw the Fire goalkeeper come up with a fine save to deny him again.
"It was very frustrating at the end," Launder said. "We had a lot of good chances today, it was that sort of a game. ... Just whatever could go wrong did.
"That's life in the big city, I guess."
The 56ers have two friendlies next weekend at home, against the Madison Soccer Association All-Stars at 7:30 p.m. Friday and against St. Louis Scott Gallagher at 7 p.m. Saturday.
MADISON 56ERS: Kyle Dillman; Carl Schneider, Sean Ronnekleiv-Kelly, Henry Aiyenero, Derek Pitts; Keith Dangarembwa, Trevor Banks; Carlos McCrary (Cody Banks 55), Andrew Wiedabach (Sam Krenzien 65), Anthony Santaga; Jed Hohlbein. Substitute not used: Ryan Onwukwe (GK).
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