Wisconsin Soccer Central

The Madison 56ers won't be playing July 31 when the National Premier Soccer League semifinals are held on their home pitch, Breese Stevens Field.

The 56ers will finish with a share of the NPSL Midwest Region title with a 5-2-1 record, along with the Chicago Fire NPSL team and possibly the St. Paul Twin Stars, but Madison would lose tiebreakers to both teams based on head-to-head matchups.

The Fire's 2-1 victory over FC Indiana on Sunday eliminated the 56ers from contention for the region's berth in the national semifinals. The Twin Stars (4-2-1), last year's Midwest champion and national runners-up, can claim the spot by beating FC Indiana next Sunday in the season finale.

St. Paul would earn the spot because it was 2-1-1 against Chicago and Madison, while the Fire were 2-2 and the 56ers were 1-2-1. If St. Paul ties or loses to FC Indiana, the Fire would claim the semifinal berth on head-to-head goal differential over the 56ers (4-2) after the teams split their meetings.

The other three semifinalists are set as the Erie (Penn.) Admirals (Northeast), Rocket City United from Huntsville, Ala. (Southeast) and the Sonoma County Sol from Santa Rosa, Calif. (West) won their respective regional titles on Saturday. A draw to determine the semifinal pairings will be held this week.