Wisconsin Soccer Central

A pair of Wisconsin teams are in St. Louis, Mo., this weekend for the U.S. Youth Futsal Midwest Regional tournament.

WI Futsal Academy, which has won four national titles over the past six years, is one of six teams in the boys Under-16/17 competition. The team, coached by Hank Ehrsam, claimed titles at Under-10 (2008), Under-12 (2010), Under-13 (2011) and Under-15 (2013).

The other state side at the regional, one of eight across the country, is the Brookfield Under-14 team coached by Tommy Markovic in the girls Under-13/14 division.

While there were a few matches Friday night, the tournament starts in earnest Saturday and concludes with finals in 11 divisions Sunday. The national tournament is Feb. 14 to 17, at the New Century (Kan.) Fieldhouse for the second straight year.

• The Chicago Fire Under-16 team closed out play at the Al Kass International Cup with a 3-2 loss to Portgual's FC Porto in the 11th-place game Friday in Doha, Qatar. Jack Shaw (Milwaukee Marquette) started up top and wore the captain's armband once again, and was replaced by Connor Alba (Waukesha Catholic Memorial/SC Waukesha) in the 83rd minute. The other state player who joined the Fire for the trip, Sam Kornetzke (Grafton/North Shore United), wasn't on the game-day roster.