Wisconsin Soccer Central

A record 88 teams will play in Madison United's 19th annual President's Cup indoor soccer tournament this weekend.

And it looks like a record that won't be broken – unless event organizers decide to make a significant format change or expand to a third facility.

"We can't go any more. This was almost a bridge too far," Madison United founder and tournament co-director Keith Binns said of adding four teams to the Men's Over-30 competition this year. "I think this is (the maximum number of teams)."

The additional entries means the tournament will start bright and early at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Madison's BreakAway Sports Center, with registration starting around 6:45 a.m. The final games of the first day won't end until around 8 p.m. over at Keva Sports Center in Middleton. Action begins at 8 a.m. Sunday at both locations.

Binns said neither facility has available field space on Friday nights because of league play – and even if they did, a proposal a few years ago to start the tournament on Friday got little support from participating teams.

The two possible options for the President's Cup to continue to grow are to split one division, most likely the Men's Over-38 bracket, off into a different weekend, or to play games at another location such as Salon Centiniela – a one-field facility on Madison's east side.

Expanding the Men's Over-30 division meant adding eight games to the schedule: Six pool matches and two playoff games, as the top two finishers in each group advance to the playoffs.

That also led to a change that will be pleasing for players and fans who pack in around the dasher boards at Keva for Sunday night's finals: They'll be able to watch two of the games without any conflicts.

In recent years, two championship games were played at the same time consecutively; this year, the Women's Open and Men's Over-38 finals at 6 p.m. are the only two being contested simultaneously. The Men's Over-30 championship is at 6:30 p.m. with the Men's Open final at 7 p.m.

"Last year, some people complained (about that) – 'There are two great games going on at the same time,' " Binns said. "It's kind of late for some of the teams that have to travel. But nobody's complained, and if nobody complains, we figure it's acceptable."

Binns said that's been the case for the tournament in general: Very few complaints. That means big changes aren't needed from year to year. But there have been a few tweaks this year.

The biggest rule change is that all free kicks will be direct. The hope is that this speeds up games, eliminating debates of whether a free kick is direct or indirect.

And from an organizational standpoint, wild card games in the Women's Open and Men's Over-30 divisions have clearly defined participants based on pool finish. In previous years, there was a seeding system to determine which team would play in each spot.

The expanded Men's Over-30 division figures to be pretty interesting, as several entries played in the Men's Open competition in recent years.

"A couple of the divisions are really going to be tough. A lot of these teams are going to be really good," Binns said of the 20-team field that includes defending champion Almost Fire from Madison. "They're not going to be 40-year-old Over-30s, they're going to be 30 or 31."

Madison's Chichitas, who have won eight of the past nine Women's Open titles, are back to defend their title. But Martins SOC, which has been one of Chichitas' top rivals over the years and ended their seven-year reign by winning the 2010 championship, is not entered this year.

One intriguing newcomer in the Women's Open field is 99 Problems. Sara (Lewis) Veit, who played at Green Bay Notre Dame and UW-Milwaukee, runs the Chicago-area team, which will have her former college teammate Mary Duffy (Madison La Follette/UW-Milwaukee) as its goalkeeper.

Four-time defending champion FC Gherkin looks to continue its dominance in the Men's Over-38 division. That age group remains an eight-team field; Binns said tournament organizers looked into adding more two interested teams, but couldn't come up with a viable 10-team format.

The 32-team Men's Open field will be strong once again, with defending champion Madison Fire joined by fellow three-time winner Croatian Eagles (2006, '07, '09), 2008 champion The Dinos, 2003 winner Milwaukee Bavarians, 1997 champion Milwaukee Kickers and a trio of Madison United teams. Binns said he was told that Keliix, a Minnesota club making its Presidents Cup debut, likely will be a very competitive team.

Of course, trying to predict the President's Cup usually is next to impossible. After all, rosters aren't set until teams check in on Saturday.

"Every year, somebody is a surprise," Binns said. "So it should be interesting – it always is."

Men's Open

Defending champion: Madison Fire.

Final: 7 p.m. Sunday, K2.

Playoffs: Round of 16 — Lincoln 1st vs. Adams 2nd, 1 p.m. K1; Adams 1st vs. Lincoln 2nd, 1 p.m. K2; Jackson 1st vs. Jefferson 2nd, 1:30 p.m. K1; Jefferson 1st vs. Jackson 2nd, 1:30 p.m. K2; Tyler 1st vs. Monroe 2nd, 2 p.m. K1; Monroe 1st vs. Tyler 2nd, 2 p.m. K2; Madison 1st vs. Washington 2nd, 2:30 p.m. K1; Washington 1st vs. Madison 2nd, 2:30 p.m. K2. Quarterfinals — 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. K1-K2. Semifinals — 5:30 p.m. K1-K2.

Adams Pool: Bottom Line, Madison Fire, Platteville Monsters, Upper Iowa II.

• Saturday: Bottom Line vs. Madison Fire, 8 a.m. B1; Upper Iowa II vs. Platteville Monsters, 1:30 p.m. K1; Platteville Monsters vs. Madison Fire, 4:30 p.m. K1; Bottom Line vs. Upper Iowa II, 5 p.m. K1.
• Sunday: Bottom Line vs. Platteville Monsters, 10:30 a.m. B1; Madison Fire vs. Upper Iowa II, 10:30 a.m. B2.

Jackson Pool: Keliix, Madison United Tigers, Master Blaster, UIU Alumni.

• Saturday: Madison United Tigers vs. Master Blaster, 9 a.m. B1; Keliix vs. UIU Alumni, 11 a.m. B2; Madison United Tigers vs. UIU Alumni, 3:30 p.m. K1; Keliix vs. Master Blaster, 3:30 p.m. K2; UIU Alumni vs. Master Blaster, 7 p.m. B1.
• Sunday: Keliix vs. Madison United Tigers, 9:30 a.m. B2.

Jefferson Pool: Arsenal United, CKI Fire Red, Milwaukee Kickers, Titans.

• Saturday: Arsenal United vs. Titans, 10 a.m. B2; CKI Fire Red vs. Milwaukee Kickers, 11 a.m. B1; Arsenal United vs. Milwaukee Kickers, 2:30 p.m. K2; CKI Fire Red vs. Titans, 3 p.m. K1.
• Sunday: CKI Fire Red vs. Arsenal United, 8 a.m. B1; Milwaukee Kickers vs. Titans, 8 a.m. B2.

Lincoln Pool: FC Magic, Madison United Lions, Oshkosh Old Guys, SNC Alumni.

• Saturday: Madison United Lions vs. Oshkosh Old Guys, 10 a.m. B1; FC Magic vs. SNC Alumni, 10:30 a.m. B1; SNC Alumni vs. Oshkosh Old Guys, 2 p.m. K1; FC Magic vs. Madison United Lions, 4 p.m. K2.
• Sunday: Madison United Lions vs. SNC Alumni, 10 a.m. B1; FC Magic vs. Oshkosh Old Guys, 10 a.m. B2.

Madison Pool: Croatian Eagles, Planet City All-Stars, Platteville Tune Squad, The Scots.

• Saturday: The Scots vs. Platteville Tune Squad, 8:30 a.m. B2; Planet City All-Stars vs. Croatian Eagles, 11:30 a.m. B2; Planet City All-Stars vs. The Scots, 6 p.m. B2; Croatian Eagles vs. Platteville Tune Squad, 6 p.m. B1.
• Sunday: Croatian Eagles vs. The Scots, 8:30 a.m. B1; Planet City All-Stars vs. Platteville Tune Squad, 8:30 a.m. B2.

Monroe Pool: Fraboni's, Racine, The Dinos, United Juniors.

• Saturday: The Dinos vs. Fraboni's, 9 a.m. B2; Racine vs. United Juniors, 10:30 a.m. B2; The Dinos vs. United Juniors, 2 p.m. K2; Racine vs. Fraboni's, 2:30 p.m. K1.
• Sunday: The Dinos vs. Racine, 9 a.m. B1; Fraboni's vs. United Juniors, 9 a.m. B2.

Tyler Pool: Croatian Eagles U23, Hmong USA, The Eagles, Upper Iowa I.

• Saturday: Hmong USA vs. The Eagles, 8:30 a.m. B1; Upper Iowa I vs. Croatian Eagles U23, 1:30 p.m. K2; Croatian Eagles U23 vs. The Eagles, 4:30 p.m. K2; Hmong USA vs. Upper Iowa I, 5 p.m. K2.
• Sunday: Croatian Eagles U23 vs. Hmong USA, 11 a.m. K1; Upper Iowa I vs. The Eagles, 11 a.m. K2.

Washington Pool: CKI Fire Black, Fox in the Box, Met Life, Milwaukee Bavarians.

• Saturday: Met Life vs. Fox in the Box, 8 a.m. B2; CKI Fire Black vs. Milwaukee Bavarians, 11:30 a.m. B1; Milwaukee Bavarians vs. Fox in the Box, 3 p.m. K2; CKI Fire Black vs. Met Life, 4 p.m. K1; CKI Fire Black vs. Fox in the Box, 7 p.m. B2.
• Sunday: Met Life vs. Milwaukee Bavarians, 9:30 a.m. B1.

Women's Open

Defending champion: Chichitas.

Final: 6 p.m. Sunday, K2.

Playoffs: Wild card — Jackie 1st vs. Nancy 2nd, 11:30 a.m. K1; Martha 1st vs. Jackie 2nd, 11:30 a.m. K2; Eleanor 1st vs. Martha 2nd, noon K1; Michelle 1st vs. Hillary 2nd, noon K2; Michelle 2nd vs. Mary 2nd, 12:30 p.m. K1; Mary 1st vs. Eleanor 2nd, 12:30 p.m. K2. Quarterfinals — Hillary 1st vs. Wild card 1 winner, 3 p.m. K1; Nancy 1st vs. Wild card 2 winner, 3 p.m. K2; Wild card 3 winner vs. Wild card 5 winner, 3:30 p.m. K1; Wild card 4 winner vs. Wild card 6 winner, 3:30 p.m. K2. Semifinals — Quarterfinal 1 winner vs. Quarterfinal 3 winner, 5 p.m. K1; Quarterfinal 2 winner vs. Quarterfinal 4 winner, 5 p.m. K2.

Eleanor Pool: 99 Problems, CKI Fire, DuHawks, UWSP Purple.

• Saturday: DuHawks vs. UWSP Purple, 12:30 p.m. K2; 99 Problems vs. CKI Fire, 1 p.m. K2; DuHawks vs. 99 Problems, 5:30 p.m. B1; CKI Fire vs. UWSP Purple, 5:30 p.m. B2.
• Sunday: 99 Problems vs. DuHawks, 9:30 a.m. K1; CKI Fire vs. UWSP Purple, 9:30 a.m. K2.

Hillary Pool: Chichitas, LFC Women's Soccer, Upper Iowa I, WSC Majors United.

• Saturday: Chichitas vs. WSC Majors United, 10:30 a.m. K2; Upper Iowa I vs. LFC Women's Soccer, 12:30 p.m. K1; Chichitas vs. Upper Iowa I, 4:30 p.m. B1; WSC Majors United vs. LFC Women's Soccer, 4:30 p.m. B2.
• Sunday: Upper Iowa I vs. WSC Majors United, 9 a.m. K1; LFC Women's Soccer vs. Chichitas, 9 a.m. K2.

Jackie Pool: La Crosse, UWSP Gold, Valley Magic, Wartburg I.

• Saturday: Wartburg I vs. La Crosse, 11:30 a.m. K2; UWSP Gold vs. Valley Magic, noon K1; Valley Magic vs. La Crosse, 3:30 p.m. B1; Wartburg I vs. UWSP Gold, 3:30 p.m. B2.
• Sunday: Valley Magic vs. Wartburg I, 8 a.m. K1; La Crosse vs. UWSP Gold, 8 a.m. K2.

Martha Pool: Bamboozlers, Blugolds, FC Barrington, Madison Fire.

• Saturday: Madison Fire vs. Bamboozlers, 11 a.m. K2; FC Barrington vs. Blugolds, 11:30 a.m. K1; Bamboozlers vs. FC Barrington, 3 p.m. B2; Blugolds vs. Madison Fire, 3 p.m. B1; FC Barrington vs. Madison Fire, 6:30 p.m. B1; Bamboozlers vs. Blugolds, 6:30 p.m. B2.

Mary Pool: Old P'Cocks, Oshkosh Gold, Peanut Gallery, UW Women's Club.

• Saturday: Peanut Gallery vs. UW Women's Club, 9:30 a.m. K2; Oshkosh Gold vs. Old P'Cocks, 10:30 a.m. K1; Old P'Cocks vs. UW Women's Club, 2:30 p.m. B2; Oshkosh Gold vs. Peanut Gallery, 2:30 p.m. B1.
• Sunday: Old P'Cocks vs. Peanut Gallery, 10:30 a.m. K1; UW Women's Club vs. Oshkosh Gold, 10:30 a.m. K2.

Michelle Pool: Assured Mortgage, Dirty Dozen, Madison United, Wartburg II.

• Saturday: Madison United vs. Assured Mortgage, 9:30 a.m. K1; Wartburg II vs. Dirty Dozen, noon K2; Assured Mortgage vs. Dirty Dozen, 4 p.m. B1; Wartburg II vs. Madison United, 4 p.m. B2.
• Sunday: Assured Mortgage vs. Wartburg II, 10 a.m. K1; Dirty Dozen vs. Madison United, 10 a.m. K2.

Nancy Pool: Megna Financial, Nacho Mamas, Oshkosh Black, Upper Iowa II.

• Saturday: Megna Financial vs. Oshkosh Black, 11 a.m. K1; Upper Iowa II vs. Nacho Mamas, 1 p.m. K1; Nacho Mamas vs. Oshkosh Black, 5 p.m. B2; Megna Financial vs. Upper Iowa II, 5 p.m. B1.
• Sunday: Upper Iowa II vs. Megna Financial, 8:30 a.m. K1; Oshkosh Black vs. Nacho Mamas, 8:30 a.m. K2.

Men's Over-30

Defending champion: Almost Fire.

Final: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, K2.

Playoffs: Wild card — Ford 2nd vs. Clinton 2nd, 2 p.m. B1; Roosevelt 2nd vs. Reagan 2nd, 2 p.m. Quarterfinals — Reagan 1st vs. Bush 2nd, 3 p.m. B1; Clinton 1st vs. Bush 1st, 3 p.m. B2; Roosevelt 1st vs. Wild card 1 winner, 3:30 p.m. B1; Ford 1st vs. Wild card 2 winner, 3:30 p.m. B2. Semifinals — Quarterfinal 1 winner vs. Quarterfinal 3 winner, 4:30 p.m. B1; Quarterfinal 2 winner vs. Quarterfinal 4 winner, 4:30 p.m. B2.

Bush Pool: Chivas, Keeper Goals, Rock Vegas, The Other Dinos.

• Saturday: The Other Dinos vs. Chivas, 7:30 a.m. B1; Rock Vegas vs. Keeper Goals, noon B1; The Other Dinos vs. Keeper Goals, 6 p.m. K2; Chivas vs. Rock Vegas, 6:30 p.m. K2.
• Sunday: The Other Dinos vs. Rock Vegas, 1 p.m. B1; Chivas vs. Keeper Goals, 1 p.m. B2.

Clinton Pool: Almost Fire, Green White Chicago, Keeper Goals North, Thunder Bay Bremen.

• Saturday: Almost Fire vs. Thunder Bay Bremen, 9:30 a.m. B2; Green White Chicago vs. Keeper Goals North, 12:30 p.m. B1; Almost Fire vs. Keeper Goals North, 5:30 p.m. K1; Thunder Bay Bremen vs. Green White Chicago, 7 p.m. K1.
• Sunday: Almost Fire vs. Green White Chicago, 11 a.m. B1; Thunder Bay Bremen vs. Keeper Goals North, 11 a.m. B2.

Ford Pool: Beer FC, FC Tipsy, Smoky's Red Rockets, Yale.

• Saturday: FC Tipsy vs. Smoky's Red Rockets, noon B2; Beer FC vs. Yale, 1 p.m. B2; FC Tipsy vs. Yale, 6:30 p.m. K1; Beer FC vs. Smoky's Red Rockets, 7:30 p.m. K2.
• Sunday: FC Tipsy vs. Beer FC, noon B1; Yale vs. Smoky's Red Rockets, noon B2.

Reagan Pool: Madison United, Milwaukee Brewers, Smoky's Blue Rockets, Celtics.

• Saturday: Madison United vs. Smoky's Blue Rockets, 7:30 a.m. B2; Milwaukee Brewers vs. Celtics, 12:30 p.m. B2; Madison United vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 5:30 p.m. K2; Celtics vs. Smoky's Blue Rockets, 7 p.m. K2.
• Sunday: Madison United vs. Celtics, 11:30 a.m. B2; Milwaukee Brewers vs. Smoky's Blue Rockets, 12:30 p.m. B2.

Roosevelt Pool: Bares United, FC Tunji, Galaxy, Rad Mad.

• Saturday: Bares United vs. Rad Mad, 9:30 a.m. B1; FC Tunji vs. Galaxy, 1 p.m. B1; FC Tunji vs. Rad Mad, 6 p.m. K1; Bares United vs. Galaxy, 7:30 p.m. K1.
• Sunday: Bares vs. FC Tunji, 11:30 a.m. B1; Rad Mad vs. Galaxy, 12:30 p.m. B1.

Men's Over-38

Defending champion: FC Gherkin (2008 to '11).

Final: 6 p.m. Sunday, K2.

Playoffs: Semifinals — Carter 1st vs. Eisenhower 2nd, 4 p.m. B1; Eisenhower 1st vs. Carter 2nd, 4 p.m. B2.

Carter Pool: FC Gherkin, Hooligans, Madison United, St. Charles Celtics.

• Saturday: Madison United vs. Hooligans, 9 a.m. K1; FC Gherkin vs. St. Charles Celtics, 10 a.m. K1; FC Gherkin vs. Hooligans, 1:30 p.m. B1; Madison United vs. St. Charles Celtics, 2 p.m. B1.
• Sunday: Hooligans vs. St. Charles Celtics, 1:30 p.m. B1; Madison United vs. FC Gherkin, 1:30 p.m. B2.

Eisenhower Pool: Albanian Eagles, Celtics, Forest City Kickers, Inter Madison.

• Saturday: Albanian Eagles vs. Inter Madison, 9 a.m. K2; Celtics vs. Forest City Kickers, 10 a.m. K2; Inter Madison vs. Forest City Kickers, 1:30 p.m. B2; Albanian Eagles vs. Celtics, 2 p.m. B2.
• Sunday: Inter Madison vs. Celtics, 2:30 p.m. B1; Albanian Eagles vs. Forest City Kickers, 2:30 p.m. B2.

Fields

B1: BreakAway Field 1
B2: BreakAway Field 2
K1: Keva Field 1
K2: Keva Field 2

Pool-play scoring

• Win: 6 points
• Tie: 3 points
• Goals scored: 1 point per goal, maximum of 3 per game
• Maximum of 9 points per game