Wisconsin Soccer Central

Following a soccer path similar to the one forged by her older brother, Tony, has served Cara Walls (Wauwatosa East/UW) well so far.

Like her brother, Cara was a standout in high school at Tosa East and in club soccer with FC Milwaukee, which has since been renamed FC Wisconsin.

She went on to an in-state NCAA Division I program, finishing her career with the Badgers last fall as one of the program's all-time leading scorers; Tony Walls was a standout midfielder at UW-Green Bay.

Now Cara Walls is looking to start her professional career in Chicago after being taken by the Red Stars in January's National Women's Soccer League draft – Tony began his pro career in the Windy City as well, with the Fire in Major League Soccer in 2012.

"He's one of my biggest inspirations, one of my biggest mentors," Cara Walls said of her brother, who starts his second season with the USL's Rochester Rhinos on Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls II in Harrison, N.J., and has played the past two seasons indoors with the Milwaukee Wave.

Walls, meanwhile, is trying to earn her own contract with the Red Stars.

"It's a really great experience," she said after a 1-0 victory over UW in an exhibition match last Friday at Reddan Soccer Park in Verona. "I'm playing with really great players. It's a whole new level every day at practice, and the level of competitiveness is just way higher, so it's a great atmosphere.

"I knew some of the girls just coming in – (U.S. Under-23 midfielder) Vanessa DiBernardo played in the Big Ten, so I know how good she is. Some of the other draftees are some of the best players in the country. I knew it was going to be like that and I was excited to challenge myself."

Walls didn't score against her old team, but did force Badgers goalkeeper Meghan Ledin (Middleton) into one of her eight second-half saves with a strike in the 50th minute. The forward spent some time with her former teammates last month.

"I was practicing with them before I came here," Walls said. "We knew this (match) was going on. We were making fun of each other – "Can't wait 'til then, can't wait to see you.' But they helped me get ready to come here."

Walls has been a proven goal-scorer on every level to this point.

At Tosa East, she was the Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year and earned all-area and all-state accolades. She won the Golden Ball as the top player at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in 2011, scoring four goals as FC Milwaukee's Under-18 team became the first – and still only – state team to win a title at the event.

Walls departed UW with her name all over the Badger record books. She ranks second in goals with 42, first in multi-goal games (10) and tied for ninth in games (82), and was the Badgers' leading goal scorer all four seasons.

With the Red Stars, Walls is one of nine strikers on the preseason roster.

However, Canadian internationals Melissa Tancredi and Adriana Leon and U.S. national teamer Christen Press figure to miss part of the NWSL season because of this summer's FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. Hayley Brock and Jen Hoy were on the team last season, while Chicago also drafted Sofia Huerta and Rachel Tejada in addition to Walls and have Jayden Barrett on trial.

"This preseason is still very competitive, there are still spots available. Nothing is guaranteed," said Walls, who was drafted in the third round (No. 23 overall).

Last Friday's game essentially was a mini-reunion for Walls' old FC Milwaukee team.

Sisters Monica and Valerie Gonyo (New Berlin/Waukesha Catholic Memorial) are on trial with the Red Stars after impressing during an open tryout, while the team's coach, Christian Lavers (UW), now is an assistant for the NWSL club under Rory Dames. McKenna Meuer (Madison Memorial), who started in the midfield for UW in the match, also was part of the title-winning FC Milwaukee side.

"It shows that there's good, quality players in Wisconsin – good enough to make it up and play with some of the best people in the country," said Walls, who had a career-high 14 goals and was a first-team, All-Big Ten Conference pick last fall.

The Red Stars, who topped Marquette 3-0 on March 16, continue their preseason schedule April 4 against Missouri and Iowa State in St. Louis and play at Notre Dame on April 8. Their regular-season opener is April 18 against the Seattle Reign on their home turf at Benedictine University Sports Complex in Lisle, Ill.

On Twitter: @Caarraaaa