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
Tag(s): Home Clubs FC Wisconsin USSDA 2014-15 ECNL 2014-15