Wisconsin Soccer Central

Despite a phenomenal season, which included a 24-match unbeaten streak and just two losses in 30 Superettan league matches, Alex Horwath (UW), Aaron Nichols (UW) and Ljungskile SK will remain in Sweden's second division in 2015.

Ljungskile lost to Gefle IF FF 4-1 on aggregate in a promotion/relegation playoff series last week.

Gefle went 8-14-8 and finished 13th in the Allsvenskan this season, but retained its spot in the country's top league by beating Ljungskile 3-1 on the road Thursday and 1-0 at home Sunday.

Ljungskile (16-2-12), which was third in the Superettan – just one point behind champion Hammarby and runner-up GIF Sundsvall – took the lead in the playoff series 12 minutes into the opener. But Gefle equalized 6 minutes later and added two more goals in a 5-minute span in the second half to seize control of the series. It was the first loss for Ljungskile since back-to-back setbacks in early May.

Horwath, 27, was in goal for both playoff matches and finished with 13 clean sheets in 32 appearances in all competitions in his first season with Ljungskile after playing four seasons of professional soccer in the U.S.

Nichols played the final 16 minutes of Thursday's match and was an unused sub Sunday – the 25-year-old midfielder made 15 appearances (3 starts) in his second season with the club.

On Twitter: @AlexHorwath

• Shannon Smyth (Mequon/Milwaukee DSHA) and host Amazon Grimstad tipped Sarpsborg 08 2-1 on Saturday in the first leg of their relegation/promotion playoff series in Norway, with a stoppage-time own goal the difference. It's the second straight year the teams have met in the playoff, Amazon Grimstad having finished 11th in the top-tier Toppserien and Sarpsborg 08 finishing second in the 1. Division. Smyth, who scored the winning goal in last year's playoff series, played all 90 minutes in the victory. The second leg is Saturday in Sarpsborg and will be Smyth's final professional match, as the 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international announced she will retire after the season. On Twitter: @ShannonSmyth
• Milwaukee Wave defender Jonathan Greenfield was named to the Major Arena Soccer League Team of the Week after his efforts in the team's 8-4 victory over the St. Louis Ambush in a season opener Saturday. On Twitter: @espengreenfield