History

The FC Milwaukee Nationals Timeline

The following is a timeline of the significant moments and successes in the clubs history.

1990

The Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club creates The Milwaukee Kicker Nationals. The intent of the program is to create teams from the greater Milwaukee area that can compete at a National Level.

1991

Peter Knezic is hired as the Director of Coaching. Already a legend on the field, Peter would soon build the most successful youth soccer program in the history of the state. His philosophy was simple, “Find good people and good coaches and create an atmosphere of trust. Be teachers of the game and teachers of kids.”

1994

The U14 Boys team reaches the Elite 8 of The USYS National Championship series.

1994

The U14 Girls and U17 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYS National Championship Series.

1996

The U15 Boys reach the Final 4 of the USYSA National Championship Series (at this time they did not have the 4 Region winners at U15 compete for the National Title). The U14 Boys, U14 Girls and U17 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.

1997

The U14, U15, U16 and U17 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.

1998

The U17 Boys, U17 and U18 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.
The U16 and U17 Girls place 1st in the nationally recognized Girls tournament WAGS.

1999

The U18 Girls place 3rd in the United States after reaching the National Final 4. The U16 Boys and U14 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series. The U15 Girls reach the Elite 8 of the USYSA National Championship Series.
The Milwaukee Kickers Nationals reaches the century mark for players moving on to play college soccer.

2000

The U15 Boys, U16 Girls and U17 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYS National Championship Series. The U18 Girls reach the Elite 8 of the USYS National Championship Series.
The Club breaks off from the Milwaukee Kickers and becomes FC Milwaukee Nationals.

2001

FC Milwaukee begins our first ever U10 and Under Program. For the 1st time in the clubs existence we were able to provide soccer programming for kids under the age of 10 years old.
FC Milwaukee begins 2nd teams. This was crucial to our development of the club because it meant we could work with more players and place them in environments fitting to their physical and technical level. It also meant we kept more FC Milwaukee kids in the club. It set the stage for historic moments like our U14 Girls Blue and White teams playing against each other in the 2004 USYSA State Final.
The club forms Under 20 and Under 23 teams to compete in the Adult National Championships. With a combination of Alumni college players and youth players this pays off. The U20 Women win the U20 USAS National Championship.
The U14 Boys, U16 Boys and U18 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.

2002

The U23 Men and Women reach the USAS National Final 4.
The U14 Boys, U15 Boys, U13 Girls, U18 Girls and U19 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.

2003

In this year our 200th player committed to play college soccer.
The U23 Women reach the USAS Sweet 16.
The U13 Boys, U16 Girls and U19 Girls Reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.

2004

The U13 Girls reach The National Final 4 of the USYSA National Championship Series (there is no Final 4 tournament to determine a National Champions for this age). The U17 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.

2005

The U18 Boys place 3rd in the United States at the National Final 4 of the USYSA National Championship Series. The U16, U17 and U18 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.
The Club reaches the century mark (100 State Champions) for USYS and USAS combined.

2006

Our 300th player committed to play College soccer.
The U16 Boys place 3rd in the United States at the National Final 4 of the USYSA National Championship Series. The U18 Boys reach the Elite 8 of the USYSA National Championship Series. The U15, U16 and U18 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.
FC Milwaukee merges with Menomonee Falls to create FC Milwaukee Menomonee Falls.

2007

The U17 Boys finish 2nd in the country at the National Final 4 of the USYSA National Championship Series. The U16 and U19 Girls reach the Elite 8. The U14, U15, U17 and U18 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.
The USSDA (The United States Soccer Development Academy) is formed by the US Soccer. This program is both a development and feeder program for the US Youth National Teams and an exclusive invitation only league for U16 and U18 Boys. FC Milwaukee is the only club in Wisconsin invited to be a member. The 78 most successful clubs play exclusively in the USSDA.
Leslie Osborne becomes the 1st FC Milwaukee Player to play in an Adult World Cup. The tournament was held in China and Leslie was the starting holding central midfielder. Our National Team placed 3rd.

2008

FC Milwaukee plays our 1st season in the USSDA with a true U17 team playing U18 and a true U16 team playing in the U16 age group. The teams struggle at the beginning but finish strong. Highlights include the U16’s losing a tight 1-2 contest against the US National U15 team in their 1st meeting and the 17’s getting a 1-1 draw against the U17 US National Team in their 2nd meeting.
The U14 Boys, U18 Boys and U17 Girls reach the Elite 8 of the USYS National Championship Series. The U15, U16 and U18 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.
FC Milwaukee purchases land in Germantown, WI for the development of soccer fields.
FC Milwaukee begins our first recreational program for U10 under boys and girls.

2009

Our 400th player committed to play college soccer.
FC Milwaukee joins the ECNL (The Elite Clubs National League). This League is run through US Club Soccer and includes the top Girls Club in the country. It is also scouted directly by US National Team Scouts.
The U14 Girls reached the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.
We receive a 200K grant from US Soccer for the development of our fields. We are the only club in the country to receive such a grant that year.
In the 2nd year of the USSDA the teams improve upon their records with tripling their win total in 1 year.

2010

FC Milwaukee Nationals opens the FC Milwaukee Soccer Fields. In year 1 the complex has 2 lighted Astro-Play fields.
With most of the top college players now playing in semi-pro leagues for both men and women FC Milwaukee starts their own WPSL (Women’s Professional Soccer League) team. In year 1 the team makes it to the National Final 4.
U18 Boys USSDA team makes the USSDA playoffs for the first time. They finish 1-1-1 missing out on the USSDA Elite 8 by a single goal.
The U18 Girls reach the Elite 8 of the USYSA National Championship Series. The U16 and U19 Girls reach the Sweet 16 of the USYSA National Championship Series.

2011

FC Milwaukee Nationals U18 Girls win the USYSA National Championship, the State's first youth National Championship.
Cara Walls wins Golden Ball for most goals in the tournament with 4.
Monica Gonyo wins Golden Glove for the tournament's top performing goal keeper.
Valerie Gonyo (defender) and Mady Vicker (midfielder) named to the "First 11" team as selected by opposing coaches.
FC Milwaukee Boys teams ages U13-U18 join US Club Soccer's National Premier Leagues/Midwest Developmental League, further demonstrating the club's commitment to finding the highest level of competiton for its players accelerated development.

2012

2 FC alumni men drafted into professional ranks: Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew/MLS, 10th pick), Tony Walls (Chicago Fire/MLS Supplemental Draft)
FC Milwaukee alumni Sarah Hagen signs professional contract with Bayern Munich (Germany)
FC Milwaukee alumnus and Creighton phenom, Ethan Finlay is awarded the MAC Hermann Award runner up, falling just short of winning the NCAA's award for best men's soccer player.