Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club

The old year was waved good bye by MK ELITE on the floor of the US CELLULAR ARENA last Saturday December 31st. A day out at the Wave game had been arranged by the Elite coaching staff for all its players and families. The day included a 2 hour training session on the Wave carpet, a 1 hour coaching clinic run by Wave coaches/ players and finally the chance to watch the Wave play their arch rivals the Baltimore Blast. Everything seemed to be going to script until we got to the winner of the game. Baltimore put on a stellar defensive effort to end the Waves 8 game winning streak. The result wasn’t going to spoil a great day out and there was still plenty of time left before the clock stuck midnight to bring in the New Year. “I was very pleased with the turnout at each of the day’s activities” said Coach King. The Elite group was pushing 150 strong which helped the Wave to their largest crowd of the season over 5000. “I hope to do this again before the end of the Wave season. This is another way that our players can learn how to play the game. To be able to watch a professional game live is not something a lot of players get a chance to do. There is nothing like watching a live soccer game especially when you are able to have interacted with some of the players like we were able to do today. This is a experience that our Elite players will never forget.” MK Elite starts their winter training January 7th at Uihlein soccer park. For other information about MK ELITE you can contact Michael King at 414 358 2678 or michaelk@mksc.org.

MK Elite U14
Fall 2011

The U14 team goal this fall was to be promoted into the highest state league possible for the spring season, which is the premier division. The best way to guarantee that the team could gain this status would be to finish in first place after all of their league matches. On October 29, following their final league game in Middleton, they finally achieved their goal.

When this U14 squad first came together to train back in early August they had a number of new faces on the team. Questions would be asked. How were the new players going to gel with the core group of returning players? How would they like the style of play? Would they accept their role on the team? How would they like practices? Most of those questions were answered by the players’ actions on the field at practice and at the first tournament. This group of young men showed that they would be up for the challenge for the upcoming season.

The team got off to a great by start winning their first league game in comeback style. Playing their home games on Time Warner Cable field gave the team the perfect field conditions to play great soccer. The team used the home field advantage by winning its second straight game and giving the team great confidence as they went on the road for the next game.

Neenah was the venue for their third league match, which is always a competitive and fair team for them to play. They were able to return home with yet another victory putting them in a strong first place position. Madison Gold would be the next competition and one in which they knew would not be an easy game. After a tough 70-minute battle, the team came away with a much deserved victory.

Next on the schedule was one of their own club teams in Tosa. They had already played this team earlier in the season at the Madison 56ers tournament. They knew this team well and like all the teams they had faced so far, they could not take them lightly. One of the biggest learning points this season is how it only takes a single mistake or great play to lose or win a game. At the state league level, you very rarily will get a lopsided game with U14 teams. The psychological part of the game is now becoming a bigger factor in the outcome of games. All players both on and off the field have to stay focused if they want to win the game. The Elite boys got off to a great start with three early goals. The Tosa team made it a game with a great come back, but came up a little short. Now it was starting to look like the goal of playing in the Premier division was going to be attainable.

Green Bay was the venue for their penultimate game, but they would be without one of their key players. David Swanson had been doing an excellent job for the team in goal however, following the Tosa game; he was diagnosed with a concussion and would be out for the remainder of the season. Who would step up and play the role as goalkeeper? Not just one player, but two offered to play in goal in David’s absence. Will started the game and Nolan finished it. Both players stopped penalty kicks but it was not quite enough, as the team suffered their first league loss of the season. An undefeated season would have been nice but the main goal was to finish in first place. With the way the other divisional teams’ results had been going they were still able to decide their own fate. Yahara would be their final opponent of the fall season and a win would give them first place. After a hard fought game, the ride home from the Madison area was going to be a fun one as they were victorious 2-1.

With the team goal of first place being attained, it is now time for the team to work hard over the coming winter months to be ready for the challenge ahead of them. Each player has individual skills to work on as prescribed by their coach. The spring season will soon be upon them and new goals will need to be set. State Cup is going to be on the schedule again which was not the most joyful experience for them last season. We will have to see how the team does come next June. In the meantime, the team will be competing in Indoor Session 2 and 3 being held at Uihlein Soccer Park.

The U13 Red started their season off with a weekend of friendlies against teams from Milwaukee Kickers at Uihlein Soccer Park, 3 in all. They would come away with 3 wins. These friendlies proved very useful heading into the Madison 56ers tournament, our first true test as a team. The team performed well, winning their 3 pool games and making it to the championship game where they were victorious and brought home a first place trophy. I would also like to add that the Elite Strikers sent 4 teams to the Madison tournament. 3 of which made the championship game in their age bracket.

The team was feeling good about themselves having won 7 straight games, 4 in Madison, and 3 friendlies. Then state league began with a whole new set of challenges. They were tested physically and mentally. They lost a close first game, then their second, followed by a 3rd loss. By this time the team had been humbled, but their spirits remained high. The team talked about winning their remaining games, and they where challenged to do so. They responded by winning their fourth game 1-0, at home, on Time Warner Cable field.

Their fifth game would be against the league leader at the time, Madison 56ers, and once again they found a way to pull out a 1-0 win. Their 6th game would end in a 0-0 tie, their 7th a 2-1 win, and in their final game, they would come up short in a 2-0 defeat. But, looking at the positive side, they only gave up 3 goals in their last 5 games. This is one of the factors that helped them maintain their position in first division.

Our goal is, and will always be, to move up to premier and we will continue to work hard and grow as a team. With Academy training, our team indoor training sessions, 2nd and 3rd session of indoor and with all the resources here at Milwaukee Kickers we will improve as a team and as individuals.