Wisconsin Soccer Central

For the first time in more than three years, the Milwaukee Marquette prep boys soccer team lost to another team from Wisconsin.

Senior James Knowles scored twice and junior Drew Johnson made seven saves in the shutout as host Brookfield East, ranked first in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Division 2 state poll, blanked the Hilltoppers 3-0 in a Greater Metro Conference match on Tuesday night.

Marquette (13-1-2 overall, 6-1-0 Greater Metro) – the top-ranked team in the Division 1 state poll – hadn't lost to a Wisconsin team since a 3-1 loss to the same team back on Sept. 28, 2010. That's a span of 56 games, an incredible streak in which the Hilltoppers went 53-0-3, outscored opponents 270-29 and posted 35 shutouts.

Senior Michael Lesar put the Spartans (13-3-3, 5-1-1) ahead in the 46th minute and Knowles added goals in the 56th and 74th as East pulled away against a Marquette side that jumped up eight spots to No. 6 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25, which was released earlier in the day.

The three-time defending WIAA Division 1 state champion Hilltoppers – who clinched the GMC outright title last week – reclaimed the top spot in the NSCAA Region VI poll and slipped one place to No. 9 in the Student Sports Fab 50, also announced Tuesday. Brookfield East was ranked 10th in the NSCAA regional poll.

• A penalty kick by junior Steven Peterson in the 48th minute proved to be the difference as Hartland Arrowhead – ranked second in Division 1 – tipped No. 3 Kettle Moraine 3-2 in Wales to win the Classic 8 Conference. The Warhawks (14-0-2, 6-0-1) won their second straight conference title and remained unbeaten. It was the second straight loss for the Lasers (17-3-1, 6-1-0), who had won 12 in a row before Saturday. Kettle Moraine received votes in this week's NSCAA national poll and are ranked fifth in Region VI, while Arrowhead is sixth in the regional poll.
• Senior Isaiah Gronholz scored his 33rd and 34th goals and sophomore Joe Graumann also scored twice as Lakeside Lutheran rolled past Sugar River 4-0 to clinch at least a share of the Capitol Conference title – the first in the program's history. The Warriors (12-1-1, 8-0-0) haven't lost since their season opener and can claim the title outright with a win or tie against third-place Lodi on Thursday. If the Blue Devils pull off an upset, Sugar River (11-5-1, 7-1-0) can share the title with Lakeside by beating Wisconsin Dells.
• Ryan England opened the scoring in the 2nd minute and added another in the second half to help host Fort Atkinson beat Madison Edgewood 3-0, giving the Blackhawks (13-2-2, 5-0-1) a share of their first Southern Badger championship. Fort's only other conference title came in the Southern Lakes back in 2006. They shared the title with Oregon (11-3-2, 5-0-1), which got a goal and an assist from sophomore A.J. Breitbach in a four-goal second half to beat visiting Monona Grove 4-0 to wrap up a share of its fifth straight championship. It's the first time in the league's 13-year history that the title was shared.
• Seniors Evan Garcia and Andrew Knoebel each had two goals and two assists as Green Bay Preble ran past Green Bay East 5-0 and won its third straight Fox River Classic title. The Hornets (18-3-1, 10-1-0) – fourth in the Division 1 state poll and 14th in the NSCAA Region VI poll – won the title outright thanks to Bay Port's 2-1 overtime win over Sheboygan North (18-3-0, 9-2-0), which could have claimed a share with a victory. It was the second straight defeat for North following a 15-game winning streak.
• Madison Memorial stopped Beloit Memorial 3-1 to finish up a perfect Big Eight Conference season and collect its 11th league title – that's the most of any team, one more than longtime rivals Madison West and Middleton.
• Senior Adam Pohlman, a UW-Milwaukee recruit, set up both goals as Neenah edged visiting Appleton North 2-1 last Thursday to clinch its ninth consecutive Fox Valley Association championship. The Rockets have won 28 titles in their 33 years in the FVA.
• Here's a look at the state's leaders in goals and assists, according to statistics reported to the Wisconsin Sports Network. WSN boys soccer player stats page

Eau Claire Memorial named Scott DeRusha its new girls coach this week, succeeding Kit Schiefelbein.

DeRusha, a 26-year-old former Old Abes and UW-Eau Claire club player, is a health and physical education instructor in the Eau Claire Area School District. He previously was an assistant in the Columbia Heights (Minn.) girls program.

Schiefelbein led Memorial to a 139-37-18 record, five Big Rivers Conference titles and five WIAA state tournament appearances in her eight seasons. She stepped down over the summer to become an assistant principal at Northstar Middle School; under district policy, administrators are not allowed to be head coaches of athletic teams.