Wisconsin Soccer Central

The FC Wisconsin Nationals Under-13/14 team had a tremendously difficult season in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, but they closed it out on a high note.

Junior Ramirez scored in each match as the Nationals went 2-0-1 at the season-ending USSDA Showcase event in Westfield, Ind.

FC Wisconsin (2-23-2) posted its first victories of the season at the event and scored 12 goals in its three games – twice as many as the team totaled in its previous 24 matches.

Ramirez and Mitchell Scholz (Kimberly) each scored for the first time this season as the Nationals opened with a 2-2 draw against Florida's IMG Academy on Friday.

A day later, Ramirez led the way with a hat trick as FC Wisconsin routed Sporting Kansas City 8-3 for its first win of the season. Austin Holtebeck (Germantown) and Jack Kohler added two goals apiece for the Nationals, who also received an own goal.

Ramirez opened the scoring in the 2nd minute against North Carolina's Triangle FC Alliance on Monday and Holtebeck's 40th-minute goal proved to be the winner in FC Wisconsin's 2-1 victory.

Another Nationals team, a combined Under-16/17 side, finished 0-1-2 in the Under-15/16 Showcase event to wrap up the season.

They tied Massachusetts' FC Bolts 0-0 on Monday and the New Jersey Cedar Stars Academy 1-1 on Wednesday – Alexis Valle scored the equalizer for FC Wisconsin in the 38th. The Nationals concluded the event with a 3-0 loss to the Carolina Rapids on Thursday and finished the season 9-17-4.

FC Wisconsin Nationals results, rosters and goal scorers

• Two FC Wisconsin Eclipse teams open play at the Elite Clubs National League playoffs Friday in Redmond, Wash. The Under-16 team (7-9-6) is seeded 11th in the North American League bracket and takes on sixth-seeded Ohio Elite in the first of four weekend matches. The club's Under-17 side (5-11-5) also is a No. 11 seed in the Showcase League and plays the North Carolina Fusion in Friday's opener. FC Wisconsin Eclipse schedules, results and rosters
• Four Wisconsin teams were honored with Fair Play Awards for their displays of good sportsmanship throughout the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships in Appleton and De Pere. The Madison FC Gold (Under-15), SC Waukesha Blue (Under-17) and Bavarians (Under-18) boys sides were lauded along with the North Shore United Under-14 girls. Referees and the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship Series Committee selected the Fair Play Award winners in each of the 14 divisions based on players' conduct on the field toward their opponents and game officials – Wisconsin had the most teams honored.