Wisconsin Soccer Central

For the second straight year, James Weber (Hartford) helped Gullringens GOIF avoid relegation.

The 20-year-old Weber left the fifth-tier Swedish club during its summer break in late June and returned home. But with its spot in the Division 3 Nordöstra Götaland in peril late in the season, Gullringens asked him to return, which he did last month.

Weber scored three goals in three matches, the last two coming in a 3-3 draw against host IK Tord in last Sunday's season finale that secured Gullringens' safety for 2014.

Playing through a left knee injury, Weber opened the scoring with a header in the sixth minute and finished off a breakaway to give Gullringens a 3-2 lead in the 32nd. He ended up ninth in the league in scoring with 10 goals, despite playing only 14 of 22 matches.

A week earlier, Weber scored in the fifth minute in a 2-2 tie against visiting Söderköpings IK. Gullringens (8-11-3) finished ninth in the 12-team league with 27 points, one more than Söderköpings, which must win a playoff to remain in the division next season.

Last year, Weber and Gullringens needed a win on the final day of the season to avoid the drop. In his two stints with the club, Weber has scored 19 goals in 24 games.