Wisconsin Soccer Central

After two relatively frustrating ties to start the season, the Madison 56ers finally got things going Saturday night.

Carlos McCrary scored twice in the opening 20 minutes in his first appearance of the year, and Englishman Kiri Portou came on for McCrary and scored his first two goals for the club as the 56ers cruised past Aris FC 6-1 in a National Premier Soccer League Central Conference match at the Viterbo University field in La Crosse.

Maranatha Baptist's Wira Wama had three assists in his first start for the 56ers (1-0-2) and Jack Keeling added a goal and an assist as a Madison side that managed just two goals – despite many opportunities – over its first two games scored four times before the hour mark.

"We had a bunch of misses early," 56ers coach Jim Launder said, "but then we started finishing pretty regularly. We had some pretty good play."

McCrary, back from a semester in Spain as part of his studies at Creighton University, got the start on the outside left in Madison's 4-2-3-1 formation and his speed caused Aris (0-2-0) problems from the outset as he constantly got in behind the home team's backline.

A nice save by the Aris goalkeeper and a shot that just missed were followed by goals in the 8th and 18th minutes. Wama set up the opener, while Keeling made the decisive pass on McCrary's second goal – it was his 30th for the 56ers.

Twenty minutes later, Keeling made it 3-0 when he first-timed a low, hard cross from Wama from about 8 yards out. "Then it was pretty much over," Launder said.

McCrary, who was training with a fourth division club in Spain, came off at halftime after a solid 45 minutes in his season debut. On came Portou, who moved into the central attacking midfield role with Wama shifting out wide left in place of McCrary.

Launder noted that Portou was among the many Madison players who struggled with finishing in last week's 1-1 draw against the Minnesota Twin Stars, but that wasn't an issue on Sunday.

He finished off another cross from Wama – a former Papua New Guinea Under-23 player – 10 minutes into the second half, and latched on to a through ball from right back Dominic O'Connor and scored the 56ers' final goal with about 10 minutes left to make it 6-0.

In between Portou's goals, player-coach Jed Hohlbein (Middleton/UW) added to his team-record goal total. UW's Carl Schneider (Madison La Follette), moved up into a holding midfield role after starting the match at center back, won a ball in the final third and back-heeled it for the veteran striker to score his 61st goal in nine seasons with the amateur team.

Aris scored in the 89th to avoid the shutout – Julian Holtzman (Madison La Follette) relieved starting keeper Ryan Onwukwe in the final 10 minutes, making his first NPSL appearance, and Launder said that a 56ers player might have gotten the final touch on the ball for an own goal.

From the touchline

O'Connor started in place of the injured Junior Boaventura (shoulder). Launder said the Swiss right back likely will be sidelined two more weeks. ... Veteran midfielder Keenan Newallo remains day-to-day as he comes back from an ankle/leg injury suffered in the season-opening 1-1 tie against the Quad City Eagles. ... Marquette midfielder Driton Zyteja (Sun Prairie), UW defender Zacc Roelke (Madison East) and Maranatha Baptist midfielder Taylor Pill (Watertown) made their 56ers debuts in the second half. ... Center back Taylor Diem (Middleton) has returned from England and is expected to start training with the team this week. ... The 56ers have three matches this week: A friendly against the Milwaukee Bavarians Under-23 team at 8 p.m. Wednesday and a rematch against Aris at 7 p.m. Friday, both at Breese Stevens Field, followed by their first trip to FC Bordo St. Louis for a 4 p.m. Sunday game.

MADISON 56ERS (4-2-3-1): Ryan Onwukwe (Julian Holtzman); Matt Barry, Carl Schneider, Drew DeLozier, Dominic O'Connor; Maclean Johnson (Driton Zyteja), Jack Keeling (Zacc Roelke); Carlos McCrary (Kiri Portou), Wira Wama (Taylor Pill), Patrick Ruhland (Joe Naughton); George Gauld (Jed Hohlbein).