The field is set for the 2014 Wisconsin Open Cup, with four teams vying for the state championship and a spot in the U.S. Adult Soccer Association Region II tournament.
Defending champion Croatian Eagles will play host to North Shore United in one semifinal on Oct. 19 at Croatian Park in Franklin, while Milwaukee Sport Club faces Bavarian SC on the same day at Schwabenhof in Menomonee Falls.
The winners will meet Oct. 26 in the state final. As the reigning champions, the Croatians would host the final if they advance; otherwise, a draw will be held to determine the home team.
The matchup between Sport Club and Bavarians, which lost to Croatians 1-0 in last fall's 2013 state final, will mark the second time in six days the teams will meet, as they'll square off in a WSL Major Division match on Oct. 13 at Schwabenhof. Bavarians have opened the 2013-14 season with three straight wins, while defending Major champion Sport Club has won two in a row since dropping their opener to Croatians 2-0.
The Eagles also have started the season 3-0-0, allowing just one goal in the process. North Shore United, meanwhile, has won its first three matches in its first season playing in the WSL First Division, outscoring opponents by a 23-2 margin.
Last season, the Wisconsin Open Cup was the only state competition contested across the country.
This year, the Region II tournament will start in November and possibly run into December because of changes made to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup schedule by the U.S. Soccer Federation. Read more about the changes
WSL MAJOR DIVISION ALL-STAR TEAM
Aleksandar Bjelic, United Serbians; Bryce Boyd, Croatian Eagles; Martin Castro, Bavarian SC; Matt Eisold, Milwaukee Sport Club; B.J. Gottschlich, Milwaukee Sport Club; Bojan Jovicic, United Sebians; Aaron Lauber, Croatian Eagles; Mike Narciso, Croatian Eagles; David Peplinski, Bavarian SC; Scott Raymonds, Croatian Eagles; Nate Sabich, Bavarian SC; Nikola Santra, United Serbians; Michael Scherer, Milwaukee Sport Club; Aaron Schroeder, Croatian Eagles; Paul Sikinger, Milwaukee Sport Club; Jake Streicher, Milwaukee Brewers; Nick Unger, Milwaukee Sport Club; Justin Wachowiacz, Milwaukee Brewers; Andrew Wiedabach, Croatian Eagles.
Coaches: Dave Scherer, Milwaukee Sport Club, and Alex Toth, Croatian Eagles.
Tag(s): Home Amateur News WSL Major Division Bavarian SC Croatian Eagles Milwaukee Sport Club First Division North Shore United