Wisconsin Soccer Central

After spending the past two years playing in Norway, Katie Bethke (Eau Claire Memorial) is off to another European country to continue her career.

Bethke recently signed with Swedish club Mallbackens IF Sunne, which won the second-tier Elitettan last season to earn promotion to the Damallsvenskan for 2015.

"Katie is an experienced, creative midfielder with great leadership skills, which will be a very important part of our team," Mallbackens manager Stefan Johansson said in a news release announcing Bethke's signing.

The 26-year-old midfielder played in Norway's Toppserien for Avaldsnes IL in 2013 and the first half of 2014 before moving to IK Grand Bodø to assume a role as a player-assistant coach midway through the season. Grand Bodø, though, couldn't escape the bottom of the table and was relegated to the 1. Division.

Bethke, who scored six goals in Toppserien play over the past two seasons, also has played for German club Bayer Leverkusen (2012) and first played in Norway with Arna-Bjørnar in 2011 – the University of Minnesota alum started her pro career with the Atlanta Beat in Women's Professional Soccer earlier that same year.

On Twitter: @kbethke3

• Meanwhile, Rosie Malone-Pavolny (Marquette) will remain in Norway after agreeing to a contract for a third season with Toppserien club Medkila IL. The 26-year-old midfielder has four goals in 41 appearances (all starts) with Medkila, whom she joined after stints with Hammarby IF in Sweden and KR Reykjavik in Iceland.
• Canadian international striker Tosaint Ricketts (UW-Green Bay) came off the bench and scored his first goal of the Ligat ha'Al season, an 82nd-minute equalizer, but his Hapoel Haifa side lost to visiting Beitar Jerusalem 4-3 on Monday. Ricketts, who had two goals in Toto Cup Ligat Al play earlier this season, made his 18th league appearance as a sub in the 70th minute. Lidor Cohen gave the visitors the victory with his second goal of the night in the 85th. On Twitter: @TosaintRicketts
• The Milwaukee Wave's Ian Bennett, Andrew Wiedabach (Mequon Homestead/UW-Milwaukee) and Jonathan Greenfield were honorable mention selections on the Major Arena Soccer League Team of the Week. Bennett had nine goals and an assist in Milwaukee's wins over the Tulsa Revolution and Wichita B-52s, while Wiedabach had an assist in his professional debut and Greenfield moved back from defense to play in goal during the second half of Saturday's win over Wichita when keeper Nick Vorberg was forced from the game due to a pulled hamstring. On Twitter: @IanBennett26 @espengreenfield

Editor's note: This article has been edited from its original version to reflect information that became available after posting.