West Allis (Monday, May 30, 2005) – A wild and wiley group play weekend gave riant cause to those teams advancing to the semi finals, setting the table for some fantastic matches this coming Saturday, June 4 at Anderson Park in Kenosha. The thrill of victory for the group winners however meant that most other teams return to their home clubs and have to wait until the 2006 tournament for another shot at the Wisconsin State Cup title. The weather toyed with teams and spectators alike as Mother Nature couldn’t decide if it should rain or shine or just remain blustery throughout the weekend. Stalwart club teams Mequon SC, Madison 56ers and FC Milwaukee continue to show strength through most of the age divisions.

Paper Valley Youth Soccer Club - Neenah is the new kid on the block in the Under-13 boys division matching up in a powerhouse group for the semi finals with Mequon SC, Madison 56ers and FC Milwaukee. As the Under-13 age group is the first age division for the Wisconsin State Cup, there is no “returning champion” from the previous year’s tournament.

Croatian Eagles makes a foray into the Under-14 Boys division having to match skills against Yahara Blue; setting the final against the winner of Mequon SC White versus FC Milwaukee. Mequon SC Red was the 2004 U13 boys’ champion.

The Under-15 Boys division sees a potential repeat of last year’s Under-14 Boys final. But first, Polonia, the 2004 U14 Boys champion squares off against FC Milwaukee. Polonia advances to the semi final, squeaking out of its group on the “Goals Against” tie breaker. Paper Valley Youth Soccer Club (PVYSC) Neenah, last year’s U14 runner up dominated its group going undefeated and conceding only 1 goal, earning the semi final berth against MK Tosa Burn which had the best record of its group posting 2 wins, zero losses and 1 tie.

The Under-16 Boys group semi finalists, Elm Grove Premier, Yahara-Middleton, Madison 56ers and Appleton Mutiny all had to traverse challenging brackets to set up what looks to be a prime showdown this Saturday in Kenosha. Elm Grove Premier looks to repeat as state champions (2004 B15 champs) but the Appleton Mutiny offers a twist of flavor to the group.

United Serbians Under-17 Boys earned its semi final berth out of a very challenging group, only to match up against the Brookfield Red which breezed through group play netting 17 goals and conceding only 1. Yahara United takes on FC Milwaukee in the other B17 semi final.

Stalwart girls’ teams from the Appleton Soccer Club, Madison 56ers, Mequon Soccer Club and FC Milwaukee fill the semi finals slots in the Under-13 girls division. Mequon SC Red and FC Milwaukee had no trouble through group play but are set to test each other’s mettle this Saturday in the first U13 girl’s semi final. But the Madison 56ers bested all U13 girls’ teams in scoring, netting 20 goals and posting the strongest goal differential in their age group. The 56ers face off against the Appleton Flame which posted a strong showing in its group play. The Under-13 girls division sets to offer two fantastic semi finals. As stated previously, there is no state cup at U12 so there is no “returning” champion from the previous year’s tournament.

The tie breaker criteria set the stage for the Under-14 girls’ semi finals. FC Milwaukee Blue had no issues through group play while Appleton New United prevailed on a record of 2 wins, zero losses and one tie to set up the Group A –CONMEBOL vs Group B- CONCACAF semi final. Group C – UEFA was the first group-play division in the 2005 Wisconsin State Cup where the SPORTSMANSHIP POINTS criteria determined which team would advance to the semi final. SC Waukesha Freedom won out on the sportsmanship tie breaker. And if that wasn’t enough, Brookfield Red needed Kicks From the Mark, the fifth and final tie breaker criteria, to advance to the other G14 semi final besting the Waunakee Challenge in the kicks tie breaker procedure.

The semi finals for this Saturday get under way at 9:30am with the U13 boys divisions. The Wisconsin State Cup is the first stage of US Youth Soccer’s National Championships Series. The State Cup tournament is an open invitation tournament for any properly registered team which is a member of a Wisconsin Youth Soccer affiliated club. Teams winning the U13-U19 boys and girls divisions, advance to the Midwest Regional Tournament; the 2nd stage of US Youth Soccer’s, National Championships Series. Teams winning the Region 2 tournament at the U14 and older boys and girls divisions, advance to US Youth Soccer’s National Cup Finals.

The Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association is a non-profit and educational organization whose mission is to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of Wisconsin’s youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition. WI Youth Soccer is the largest youth sports organization in the state and serves US Youth Soccer and the United States Soccer Federation as the administrative body for youth soccer in Wisconsin. WI Youth Soccer as a statewide body registers nearly 57,000 players, over 8,000 dedicated coaches, most of who also are volunteers and countless other administrative volunteers statewide. WI Youth Soccer is one of 55 member State Associations to US Youth Soccer.

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