Wisconsin Soccer Central

There was very little difference between the three FC Wisconsin Nationals and Sockers FC teams in U.S. Soccer Federation Development Academy action Saturday.

The clubs' Under-17/18 and Under-15/16 sides played to ties and the Sockers posted a 1-0 victory in the Under-13/14 match at the Nike Park Turf Field in Naperville, Ill.

UW-Milwaukee recruits Nick Moon (Waukesha West) and Reid Stevenson (Sturgeon Bay) combined for the first goal for the Under-17/18 team, with Stevenson scoring his team-best 10th goal of the season for the Nationals (6-12-4) in the 8th minute. The Sockers, though, pulled level in the 51st and neither team could break the stalemate.

The Under-15/16 game was a back-and-forth affair, with all six goals coming in the second half.

After falling behind, Tunji Akindes (Kenosha Bradford) and Todor Atlija (Franklin) scored to put FC Wisconsin ahead – Adrian Roman set up both goals, his fifth and sixth assists of the season – only to see the Sockers go back in front with two quick goals. Blake Carr (Hartland Arrowhead), though, pulled the Nationals (9-9-4) level with a header off a corner kick.

Carr has scored all seven of his goals in 11 matches this spring and ranks second on the team behind Akindes (10) and just ahead of Atlija (six). With five games remaining, the Nationals are still in the hunt for a wild-card playoff berth.

In the Under-13/14 match, Ben Leas (Milwaukee) nearly pulled out another draw for FC Wisconsin (5-11-4), but his overhead kick in the final moments hit the crossbar.

The Nationals are off to Minnesota this weekend. The two older teams will face Shattuck-St. Mary's on Saturday in Faribault, Minn., while all three sides take on the Minnesota Thunder Academy on Sunday in Savage, Minn.

• The Sheboygan area will have a new club in the fall, Lakeshore United FC, which was recently formed by a merger between the Sheboygan Area Youth Soccer Organization and Sheboygan County United SC. Lakeshore United will aim to provide opportunities for players of all ages and abilities; under the current setup, SAYSO oversees recreational leagues and SC United provides select-level play. The new club also will start a youth academy program. "Sheboygan area youth have had great opportunities and success over the years; however, our new program will build and improve upon that success and allow our area youth to continue to compete at a high level," Lakeshore United FC president Tony Klockow said in a news release. "And for those who wish to play at a higher level, (they) will have the ability to do so without the need to travel long distances to continue their development." Website