Wisconsin Soccer Central

After losing to longtime rival RWB Adria in the first round of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association Region II Open Cup back in April, the Croatian Eagles turned their attention to the organization's Amateur Cup.

The Franklin side won its two group matches this weekend at regionals in Overland Park, Kan., to reach the semifinals, where it will face none other than RWB Adria.

The teams from the two Croatian clubs will meet at 8 a.m. Sunday, with the winner moving on to the final at noon.

RWB Adria is the reigning Region II champion, having outlasted the Madison 56ers 2-0 after extra time in last year's final, and blanked the Eagles 2-0 on April 6 in the regional Open Cup opener.

Scott Raymonds (Brookfield East/UW-Green Bay) and Aaron Lauber (Franklin/UW) have sparked the Eagles' attack at regionals so far.

Raymonds scored twice and Lauber added another as the Croatians overwhelmed Kansas' Emporia 6-1 on Friday, with Ross Van Osdol (UW-Milwaukee), UW-Oshkosh's Tony Starnes (Green Bay Notre Dame) and Scott Widule (Kettle Moraine) also finding the net as the Eagles bounced back after last Sunday's wild 6-4 loss to Milwaukee Sport Club in the Wisconsin Soccer Leagues Major Division semifinals.

Starnes' goal was a big one, as it came in his first competitive action since suffering a torn ACL in his knee early in the college season last fall.

On Saturday, Raymonds scored on a 35-yard blast and Lauber headed in his second goal of the weekend to stake the Eagles to a two-goal lead, and they held off Minnesota's Cardinals 2-1 to win their three-team group.

RWB Adria also won its group, but Michigan's Carpathia Kickers claimed the top seed for the semifinals and will face the Cincy Saints – the top second-place finisher, behind RWB Adria – in the other semifinal.

The regional champion advances to the USASA National Cup finals from July 19 to 21 in San Antonio.

Under-23

UW-Milwaukee's Kevin Ferron (Brookfield Central) and Andy Huftalin (Marquette) scored in each match as the Croatians cruised through group play and earned a semifinal matchup with a familiar foe.

The Eagles will face Louisville Soccer Alliance at 8 a.m. Sunday for a spot in the final at noon. In 2010, the Croatians needed to win their group finale against Louisville and were a goal up in the 85th minute, but yielded two late goals in a 3-2 loss.

Marquette's Adam Lysak (Milton) opened the scoring for the Eagles and Huftalin and Ferron followed suit in Friday's 3-1 victory over Illinois' GLSA FC 1974, a rematch of last year's regional final. The Croatians took that meeting 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw, and went on to advance to the national final in July.

On Saturday, DePaul's Cale Hartle had a hat trick and Concordia's Diego Campos (Milwaukee Hamilton) joined Huftalin and Ferron in the goals in a 6-0 rout of Michigan's Ann Arbor FC.