Wisconsin Soccer Central

All three Wisconsin teams that advanced to Wednesday's finals at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships at Scheels USA Youth Complex in Appleton saw their quests to claim regional titles and national berths come up just short.

The FC Wisconsin Nationals Under-16 boys team came the closest to a championship among the state teams, falling to Minnesota's Sporting St. Croix 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw.

After falling behind in the 7th minute – Gladimyr Jeudi's goal for Sporting was the first allowed by the Nationals in five matches at regionals – FC Wisconsin pulled level through Trey Goodnetter (Brookfield East) in the 61st.

But neither team could score in the final 29 minutes or in the two overtime periods, and St. Croix goalkeeper Oscar Mulvaney saved the Nationals' first two shots from the spot in the shootout to lead the Minnesota team to nationals. FC Wisconsin, which has a roster of primarily Under-15 players, ended up 8-0-2 and outscored opponents 25-4 during the State Cup and regionals.

Earlier in the day, Riley Dubbs' 61st-minute goal was the difference as the SC Waukesha Under-13 boys team dropped a 1-0 decision to Missouri's Sporting JB Mann. SC Waukesha was 8-1-1 with a 27-5 goal differential in its tournament run.

Meanwhile, Brooke Prondzinski proved to be too much for the Strike FC Wisconsin Premier Under-18 girls team. The Missouri State recruit gave KC Metro Dynamos the lead in the 1st minute, snapped a tie in the 73rd and added an insurance goal in the 84th as the Kansas team pulled away for a 3-1 victory.

Marquette recruit Jamie Kutey played for the Dynamos, last year's regional runners-up at Under-17. McKenna Vento (Hartland Arrowhead) scored a 19th-minute equalizer for Strike FC, which beat the Dynamos 4-1 in Midwest Regional League play last fall.

The 14 Region II champions crowned Wednesday earned berths in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, which are July 21 to 26 in Tulsa, Okla. Wisconsin's 15 teams at regionals compiled a 26-17-7 overall record, with seven teams advancing to the semifinals.

Full results and standings