Wisconsin Soccer Central

Four Wisconsin players figure to be in action Friday as Loras (Iowa) squares off against Rutgers-Camden (N.J.) in an NCAA Division III men's national semifinal in San Antonio, Texas.

Senior defender Erik Berkowitz (Racine St. Catherine's) has started all 22 matches for the Duhawks (19-1-3), who advanced to the Final Four for the fourth time in the past seven years. Berkowitz has six goals (four game-winners) and two assists.

Meanwhile, three state natives have regularly come off the bench for sixth-ranked Loras, which brings an 11-game unbeaten streak (10-0-1) into the semifinal at Toyota Field – the home field of the San Antonio Scorpions of the North American Soccer League.

Freshman forward Chris Paulino (La Crosse Aquinas) has a goal and two assists in 19 appearances (2 starts), sophomore midfielder Jorge Simon (Kimberly) has a goal and an assist in 17 games and freshman midfielder Jonah Jacke (Green Bay Southwest) has added a goal in 20 appearances for a Duhawks side that has outscored foes 53-11.

Loras was one of three teams to receive first-round byes in the 61-team field and had to survive a shootout in the second round against Luther (Iowa), advancing 5-3 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw – Simon converted one of the penalties. The Duhawks then beat Westminster (Mo.) 2-0 and No. 7 Trinity (Texas) 2-1 to advance to San Antonio.

Third-ranked Rutgers-Camden (22-0-2), making its first Final Four appearance, has the longest unbeaten streak in the nation at 36 games (31-0-5). The Scarlet Raptors haven't allowed more than one goal in any of their past 15 matches.

Thursday's game kicks off at 5 p.m. The winner will face Williams, Mass. (15-6-0) or defending champion and fourth-ranked Messiah, Penn. (22-1-1) in the final at 5:30 p.m. Saturday – Loras lost to Messiah 1-0 in overtime in the national semifinals last year.

All six games from the Division III men's and women's Final Fours this weekend will be streamed live on the NCAA website.

• Freshman forward Charles Salazar (Racine Prairie School) is on the roster for Division II semifinalist Rockhurst (Mo.), but hasn't yet made an appearance for the Hawks. Rockhurst (17-3-3), which is ranked 14th but seeded third in the 35-team tournament, faces top-ranked and second-seeded Southern New Hampshire (20-1-1) at 4 p.m. Thursday in Evans, Ga. The national final is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.