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 Eau Claire Aris FC enjoyed its best weekend in its three seasons in the National Premier Soccer League, taking three points and coming close to claiming a fourth.
Renaud Sicard, a native of Paris who plays for NAIA Marian (Ind.), had a pair of goals in his debut as Aris scored three times in the second half to rally past Minnesota Kings FC 3-1 on Friday night at Bollinger Fields.
A night later, the Quad City Eagles scored a late game-winner to beat Aris 2-1.
Friday's victory was the first in a contested NPSL match for Aris – the club's only other win in its first 22 league matches came via forfeit in 2009. It also was the first win for the team under new coach Chris Galbraith.
Adi Bilani gave Kings FC (0-2-0) the lead in the first half, but Blake Brackett of Northwestern (Minn.) found the equalizer on a long free kick. Sicard did the rest, first putting in the rebound after a shot by UW-Platteville recruit Hunter McMahon (Onalaska) was saved and adding an insurance goal.
Iowa Wesleyan's Troy Osborne made seven saves for Aris in his season debut.
On Saturday, Sicard played in McMahon for his first goal of the season as Aris pulled into a tie with Quad City, but Eduardo Garza's late goal gave the Eagles (2-1-1) the victory. Aris was short-handed, as backup keeper Elek Lane (Eau Claire Memorial) and Galbraith were forced to play in the field.
Aris plays host to its two Wisconsin rivals next weekend, the Madison 56ers at 5 p.m. Saturday and the Milwaukee Bavarians at 4 p.m. Sunday.
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