Wisconsin Soccer Central

Genevieve Richard (UW) and Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara rallied to pull out a 2-2 draw with visiting Speranza FC Osaka-Takatsuki in the first leg of a Nadeshiko League promotion-relegation playoff series Friday in Japan.

Nojima Stella trailed 2-0 heading into the final quarter hour, but got an own goal in the 77th minute and scored the equalizer in the 3rd minute of stoppage time in front of a record home crowd of 2,776.

Richard was in goal for Nojima Stella, which finished second in Division 2 this season. The teams meet again Saturday in Takatsuki, with the series winner earning a spot in the top-tier Division 1 for the 2016 season.

On Twitter: @GenRichard_GK

• Ethan Finlay (Marshfield) started and played 63 minutes as Columbus Crew SC lost to the Portland Timbers 2-1 in Sunday's MLS Cup final in Ohio. The 25-year-old Finlay, who was an integral part of the Crew's attack this season with 14 goals and 13 assists in 40 appearances in all competitions, had very few chances working primarily against Timbers left back Jorge Villafaña. On Twitter: @EthanFinlay13
• Andrija Novakovich (Muskego) played a role in Cheltenham Town's final goal in a 3-1 victory over visiting Chester in a National League match Saturday in England. Novakovich, who came on in the 56th minute in his second appearance on loan from Championship club Reading, forced a save from Jon Worsnop, but the Chester keeper could only parry the ball and Danny Wright finished in the 88th to close out the victory for the league-leading Robins (14-2-8). On Twitter: @AndrijaNovakov3
• The Milwaukee Torrent announced that their first match will be a friendly against Marquette on April 23 at Valley Fields. Kickoff for the game, which is part of the Golden Eagles' spring exhibition season, is set for 7 p.m. The Torrent, who will play in American Soccer League 2 in their inaugural season, also have agreements to play friendlies against the University of Wisconsin and UW-Green Bay in the spring.