Wisconsin Soccer Central

J.C. Banks (Milwaukee Riverside/UW-Green Bay) couldn't have asked for a better way to launch his career with the Jacksonville Armada.

Banks scored the lone goal with a fine individual effort in the 77th minute and was named Man of the Match as the Armada blanked visiting FC Edmonton 1-0 in a North American Soccer League opener Sunday afternoon. (Watch highlights below)

The 27-year-old, who signed with Jacksonville in January after spending the past two seasons with Minnesota United in the NASL, nearly scored in the 8th minute only to see his left-footed strike from the left side zip just outside the far post.

But 13 minutes from time, Banks won the ball in the midfield and worked past two Edmonton defenders before slotting a shot past on-rushing goalkeeper Chris Konopka. It was Banks' fifth goal in NASL play and the 22nd of his six-year professional career.

"J.C., one-on-one, is one of the better players in the league," Armada captain Aaron Pitchkolan told the Florida Times-Union. (Read full article) "He showed it right there."

On Twitter: @jcbanks11

• Andrija Novakovich (Muskego) converted a penalty in the 72nd minute for the lone goal of the game as the Reading Under-23 team blanked host Newcastle United 1-0 on Monday to advance to the Premier League Cup semifinals. Reading defender Gabriel Osho was fouled in the box, and Novakovich stepped to the spot and sent keeper Nathan Harker the wrong way for his fifth goal in seven appearances in the competition – the 20-year-old striker has 14 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions this season. Swansea City, Norwich City and Portsmouth joined Reading in the semifinal draw. On Twitter: @AndrijaNovakov3
• Andrew Stadler (Wauwatosa West) found a new club in Sweden, as the 29-year-old striker recently signed with Superettan side Dalkurd FF. Stadler was not eligible for the second-division team's 0-0 draw against IF Brommapojkarna in Saturday's opener in Borlänge due to work permit issues, but wrote in a Twitter direct message that he expects to be available for next week's match at GAIS. Stadler has 49 goals in 143 appearances in six seasons in Sweden, and played in the top-level Allsvenskan with Östersunds FK last season. "Promotion to Allsvenskan is the main goal this season," he wrote about joining Dalkurd, a club that was formed by Kurdish immigrants in 2004 and has earned six promotions in its 11 seasons. On Twitter: @AndrewStadler
• Matt Pyzdrowski (Marquette) posted the clean sheet as Helsingborgs IF, relegated from the Allsvenskan last year, opened its Superettan season with a 1-0 victory over visiting Trelleborgs FF on Saturday. On Twitter: @MattPyzdrowski
• Midfielder David Cabán (Kenosha Tremper/UW) played the full 90 minutes as IFK Åmål doubled up host Håfreströms IF 6-3 on Friday to finish unbeaten in Group A of the Dalslands Sparbanks Cup. IFK Åmål advances to the semifinals of the tournament; the winner earns a spot in the 2017-18 Swedish Cup. On Twitter: @david_caban
• Forward Carlos McCrary, who played three seasons with the Madison 56ers in the National Premier Soccer League, likely won't play again this season for German fifth-division club Sportfreunde-Seligenstadt because of a shoulder injury. The 25-year-old had nine goals in 19 appearances (13 starts) for the Hessenliga club before the league's winter break and scored four times in four preseason matches early this year before suffering the injury. On Twitter: @CarlosMcCrary
• Milwaukee Wave forward Robert Renaud was named to the Major Arena Soccer League All-Rookie team on Monday. The 23-year-old ranked third on the team with 20 goals and 13 assists in 26 appearances overall. Wave goalkeeper Josh Lemos and defender Daniel Chamale each were honorable mention selections on the All-Rookie team. Lemos, who also was named All-MASL honorable mention, ranked fourth in the league with a 4.83 goals-against average and a .718 save percentage – Milwaukee went 11-2 with the 27-year-old in goal during the regular season. The 24-year-old Chamale, meanwhile, had four goals and six assists in 26 matches. The All-MASL second- and third-team honors will be announced Tuesday, followed by the first-team honors Wednesday.