Wisconsin Soccer Central

Just more than 24 hours before his team's National Premier Soccer League Midwest Region opener at the St. Paul Twin Stars, Madison 56ers coach Jim Launder was asked if his side was ready to go.

"No," Launder said Friday afternoon. "But we will be. Hopefully, by kickoff."

Saturday night's game at Augsburg College in Minneapolis is a fitting debut for the Midwest Region's fifth year, as the 56ers and Twin Stars are the only teams to be part of the division every season.

They've also combined to win the past three regional championships — the then-named Princeton-56ers won the 2006 and 2007 titles, and the Twin Stars (4-2) edged out the Princeton-56ers and Chicago Fire (3-1-2) to finish atop the standings last summer.

Launder said the 56ers will be without two likely starters this weekend in midfielder Kyle Pateros (Janesville Craig/Butler) and one-time Major League Soccer player Demetrius White (Milwaukee). Pateros will be attending a wedding, while White is waiting to have his amateur status restored — a common move for former professional players. But beyond those absences, Launder has been relatively impressed with his team.

"We're doing all right. We're coming along," he said. "I thought Tuesday, we had a great training, we looked actually pretty good."

Launder has changed the 56ers' formation, with the team expected to come out in a 4-2-3-1 scheme against the Twin Stars. Last season, they played primarily in a 3-5-2.

"I'm not the kind of guy who's stuck on a system," said Launder, whose team split its matches against St. Paul last year — each team winning at home. "I'm a big believer in you've got to fit the system to the players and make them comfortable in the system and then worry about the principles of play out of there."

At least early on, it appears that defense will be the strength for the 56ers.

Launder has been impressed with incumbent goalkeeper Nick Powell (Madison Memorial/Butler) and newcomer Jon Szafranski of NCAA Division III St. Mary's in Winona, Minn., as they are expected to split the starts this weekend — Madison will be the first opponent for new club Eau Claire Aris FC on Sunday afternoon in Chippewa Falls.

The 56ers' backline includes three-quarters of the University of Wisconsin's defense from the spring season in center backs Taylor Waspi and Cale Cooper (Madison West) and right back Brian Bultman along with UW-Platteville's Chris Brown (McFarland), who has been a quick study at left back.

"He played central midfield for Platteville, but he's figured out the left back position really well, and he's got a great serve," Launder said.

Will Howell (Waunakee/UW-Oshkosh) and Keith Dangarembwa, a native of Zimbabwe who plays at Division III Kenyon College in Ohio, slot in as the two holding midfielders in front of the center backs.

Farther up in the midfield, Trevor Banks (Madison Memorial) returns for his fourth NPSL season — he was an All-Midwest Region selection last year — and will be counted on to help generate offense with central attacking midfielder Pablo Delgado (UW). With Pateros and White absent, veterans Henry Aiyenero or William Bagayoko (UW) are the top candidates on the flank opposite of Banks. Aiyenero was the club's leading scorer last summer with five goals.

The main area of concern is up top. Jed Hohlbein (Middleton/UW), a four-time all-region selection and the team's all-time leading scorer, is now playing in Germany, and Launder said the 56ers really don't have a go-to scorer up front. UNLV's Will Ziegahn and Ilya Ksenidi (West Allis Hale/UW-Green Bay) are the top contenders to start in the lone striker position.

Launder didn't hesitate when asked if the team's midfielders would need to score goals. "Without a doubt," he said.

And no doubt Launder was preparing his team for whatever else Saturday night might bring.

It seems that every time the 56ers play the Twin Stars something bizarre happens. Matches between the teams over the years have featured near fights, the 56ers being forced to use a field player in goal, questionable refereeing decisions, lightning delays during a game in the middle of a large park and one game being ended early after a Twin Stars player threw a ball at an official.

"We're just going to have to go up there and be ready for whatever it is," Launder said. "Something strange will happen."

From the touchline

Three players aren't available this weekend because they're playing with youth teams at the Wisconsin State Championships in Appleton: forward-midfielder Adam Lysak (Milton/Marquette) and defender Luke Klees (Madison Memorial/UW-Parkside) with the MYSC Blue Under-18 team and goalkeeper Travis Meikle (Monona Grove/UW-Green Bay) with the FC Green Bay Orange Under-19 side. ... Former UW midfielder Zack Lambo decided not to play this season, Launder said, but could return for selected matches. Lambo played for the Princeton-56ers the past three years. ... Eau Claire Aris FC has two UW-Green Bay players on its roster, defender Josh Bautch (Wausau West) and forward Mike Ohnesorge (Mosinee), along with several older local players and five high school players — including two sophomores. ... Out of the eight U.S. Open Cup berths awarded to amateur teams, three went to NPSL sides: Reigning Southeast Region champion Atlanta FC, defending Northwest Region winner Sonoma County Sol and the Arizona Sauharos, who aren't playing in the league this season because there weren't enough teams for a Southwest Region. First-round matches are June 9.