Wisconsin Soccer Central

The SC Waukesha Under-17 Blue boys team came up with a big victory Tuesday – and it might turn out to be even bigger.

Brody Kraussel (Muskego) scored in the 60th minute and Dominic Spano (Kettle Moraine) posted his second clean sheet in as many days as SC Waukesha blanked Michigan's Alliance Black 1-0 in the semifinals of the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

SC Waukesha will take on Cincinnati United Premier Crew Juniors Gold in the regional final at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Regional champions earn berths in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, which are July 23 to 28 in Overland Park, Kan.

However, CUP Crew Juniors already have secured a spot at nationals, having won the USYS National League Blue Division title. Therefore, it is believed that SC Waukesha will qualify for nationals as the Region II representative regardless of Wednesday's result, though that has not been confirmed.

SC Waukesha has outscored its four opponents at regionals 10-3, getting goals from seven players in the process. Going back to the Wisconsin State Championships, the team has won all nine of its matches with a 24-6 goal differential.

Wednesday's matchup will be a challenging one, though: CUP Crew Juniors went 6-1-0 in National League play – the lone loss coming back in November – and has outscored foes 16-2 in winning all four of its games at regionals. They beat Ohio's Pacesetters 2-0 in the semifinals.

• University of Wisconsin midfielder Drew Conner and the Chicago Fire Academy Under-19 boys topped Kentucky's Javanon 2-1 in the semifinals and will play Nebraska's NFC Blue in the regional final.
• Incoming Marquette freshman Ashley Handwork scored her fourth goal in as many regional matches as Team Chicago Academy Botafogo (Ill.) beat Michigan FC 2-0 to advance to the Under-18 girls final. Two 2014 Marquette recruits, Katie Ciesiulka and Heather Handwork, also play for Team Chicago Academy Botafogo.
• Midfielder Abigail Banks, headed to UW-Parkside in the fall, will play in the Under-17 girls final after Illinois' Academy United topped Cleveland United White 1-0 in the semifinals. Academy United will face the Iowa City Alliance Heatwave, trying to become the first Iowa team in more than 10 years to win a regional title.