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 The defending state champion, the state's leading scorer, teams riding long unbeaten or winning streaks and conference rivals.
Yes, there are plenty of story lines for the WIAA Division 3 state boys soccer tournament, which starts with the semifinals Friday morning at Time Warner Cable Stadium at Milwaukee's Uihlein Soccer Park.
Here's a look at the four teams shooting to be crowned the 10th Division 3 state champion Saturday.
Schedule
At Uihlein Soccer Complex, Milwaukee
Live stream: www.foxsportswisconsin.com
Friday, Oct. 28
Semifinals
Winnebago Lutheran (25-3-0) vs. Waupun Central Wisconsin Christian (15-7-1), 9 a.m.
Wausau Newman (19-2-2) vs. Racine Prairie School (19-3-2), 11 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 29
Championship
Semifinal winners, 10 a.m.
Winnebago Lutheran Vikings
Coach: David Haag, 13th season (245-60-21).
Record: 25-3-0 (13-1-0 Wisconsin Flyway Conference, first). Last 10 games: 10-0-0.
Averages: Goals for – 4.89. Goals against – 0.46. Shutouts: 20.
Final WSCA ranking: Honorable mention.
State tournament history: Third appearance, first since 2009. State runner-up in 2005.
From the touchline: After losing two of their first three matches back in August, the Vikings are 24-1-0 and have outscored opponents 127-5 in that span. ... They've scored five goals or more 14 times, including a 6-0 win over semifinal foe Waupun Central Wisconsin Christian, and have defeated four postseason opponents by a combined 26-1 margin. ... Senior forward Aaron Calkins leads the state with 60 goals and has added 17 assists, while classmates Sam Klein (17-12) and Eddie Spanbauer (13-10) also are factors going forward. ... Calkins has 10 hat tricks this season and has scored 114 goals in 50 matches over the past two seasons. ... Sophomore Caleb King (0.31 goals-against average, nine shutouts) has taken over as the main goalkeeper, after essentially splitting time with senior Eric Post (0.73, eight) throughout the season. ... The Vikings' 3-0 win over fourth-ranked Kohler in the sectional finals was their 17th consecutive victory.
Waupun Central Wisconsin Christian Crusaders
Coach: Gregg Zonnefeld, 16th season (221-131-26).
Record: 15-7-1 (8-5-1 Wisconsin Flyway Conference, fifth). Last 10 games: 8-2-0.
Averages: Goals for – 2.48. Goals against – 1.30. Shutouts: 12.
Final WSCA ranking: Not ranked.
State tournament history: Second WIAA appearance, lost in semifinals in 2003. Also made four appearances in the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association state tournament and won the Division 2 state title in 1994.
From the touchline: The Crusaders are on a seven-game winning streak, with shutouts in each of their past five matches. That includes clean sheets in each of their four playoff games, the most recent a 1-0 victory over top-ranked Milwaukee St. Anthony in the sectional finals. ... Lost to Winnebago Lutheran 6-0 on Aug. 25 and 2-0 on Sept. 22. Calkins had three goals in the first meeting and another in the second. ... Balanced attack includes seven players with four goals or more, led by sophomore midfielder Luke Jansen (18-12), while senior Josh Alsum (1.29 gaa, 12 shutouts) has been a stalwart between the posts.
Wausau Newman Cardinals
Coach: Mike Switalski, 18th season (216-149-28).
Record: 19-2-2 (9-0-1 Mid-State Conference, first). Last 10 games: 9-0-1.
Averages: Goals for – 3.57. Goals against – 1.09. Shutouts: 13.
Final WSCA ranking: Not ranked.
State tournament history: Third appearance and second in a row. Lost to La Crosse Aquinas 3-1 in the semifinals last year.
From the touchline: Newman is unbeaten in its past 16 matches (14-0-2) since a 10-0 loss to Division 2 Mosinee on Sept. 6. ... The trio of seniors Paul Messerly (26-10) and Adam Hoffmann (14-17) and freshman Will Varline (14-7) account for more than 65 percent of the Cardinals' goals. ... Senior Ben Varline has 10 shutouts. ... Newman's other loss was 2-1 to Division 1 Schofield D.C. Everest in its season opener Aug. 17.
Racine Prairie School Hawks
Coach: Corey Oakland (88-19-9).
Record: 19-3-2 (6-1-0 Midwest Classic Conference, second). Last 10 games: 8-2-0.
Averages: Goals for – 4.00. Goals against – 0.58. Shutouts: 12.
Final WSCA ranking: Second.
State tournament history: Advanced to state final in all four previous appearances, winning titles in 2004, '05 and '10 after losing in 2003. Beat La Crosse Aquinas 5-0 in last year's championship game.
From the touchline: The Hawks avenged a 2-1 loss to Racine St. Catherine's suffered in conference play by beating the Angels 3-1 in the sectional finals. ... Prairie School's other losses also were 2-1 decisions against ranked teams – to Division 1 Kenosha Tremper on Sept. 29 and Division 2 Green Bay Notre Dame on Oct. 8. ... Also beat third-ranked Milwaukee University School 5-1 in the sectional semifinals. ... Senior Logan Ketterer (0.60 gaa, 13 shutouts) is a Bradley recruit. ... Seniors Robbie Laing (20-10) and Austin Geisler (11-10) and junior Charles Salazar (14-9) lead the attack.
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