Wisconsin Soccer Central

The Wisconsin Fire's debut in the U.S. Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League Pro Youth Club Affiliates Division couldn't have gone much better.

The Fire, a partnership between Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, 12 state clubs and the Wisconsin Olympic Development Program, compiled a 16-4-5 record at the Pro Youth Club Affiliates Showcase last weekend in St. Charles, Mo.

Only teams from or affiliated with the Fire and fellow MLS clubs Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City are eligible to play in the division. It was the first official event for the Wisconsin Fire and the only one of the 2013-14 season; the program's Under-16 and Under-18 boys teams played friendlies against the Chicago Fire Academy last August.

The participating clubs are: Appleton SC, Bavarian SC, Brookfield SA, Croatian Eagles, Elm Grove SC, Madison 56ers, Milwaukee Kickers, North Shore United, Parkland SC, Racine ASA, SC Waukesha and Wisconsin Rush.

Stan Anderson (UW-Parkside), the technical coordinator for the Wisconsin Fire, said he didn't know what to expect from the weekend.

"I had no idea," said Anderson, an assistant for the University of Wisconsin men's program and the goalkeeper coach for the Chicago Fire Academy. "I knew that we had good people in place to coach the games. I knew that we had some teams that were quite good. But I had no idea what to expect from the competition. ... All in all, I think it was pretty good."

The Wisconsin Fire fielded nine teams last weekend: Under-12 through Under-14 girls sides and Under-12 through Under-18 boys sides. The program plans to add Under-15 through Under-18 girls teams for the 2014-15 season, Anderson said. Next season also is expected to feature more opportunities for the teams.

"We've got to dance around and work with the MRL, the (Wisconsin Development Academy), State Cup – just different things," Anderson said of the scheduling challenges. "When you have a group like this, which are 13 clubs at a minimum, it's tough to try to get all those schedules together."

While they won't be official events, Anderson anticipates that some Wisconsin Fire teams will schedule additional matches this spring – "We're all for it," he said, adding that he's hoping to have the Chicago Fire Academy teams come up for some games.

The Pro Youth Club Affiliates Division has three events scheduled for the fall, around Labor Day in Indianapolis, mid-October in Kansas City and in November in Columbus, Ohio. Anderson said that eventually he'd like to see Wisconsin Fire teams play in elite tournaments, such as the Disney Showcase in Florida.

"At the end of the day, the (directors of coaching) have been great, they've bought in, they've provided the players' availability, the players have bought in, the coaches have done a great job," Anderson said.

"I think it's going in the right direction. I'm pleased with where it is, I'm pleased with the commitment. I see a lot of good things with it."

MRL PRO YOUTH CLUB AFFILIATES SHOWCASE
March 29-30 at St. Charles, Mo.
Wisconsin Fire records
BOYS
Under-12: 2-0-1
Under-13: 3-0-0
Under-14: 1-1-1
Under-15: 3-0-0
Under-16/17: 1-2-0
Under-18: 1-0-1
GIRLS
Under-12: 2-0-0
Under-13: 1-0-2
Under-14: 2-1-0