State soccer player of the year Ryan Berghauer of Brookfield East announces college commitment

Brookfield East senior Ryan Berghauer has committed to UW-Milwaukee for men's soccer.

The Spartans defender is fresh off being recognized as the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association's player of the year after leading Brookfield East within a penalty shootout of a WIAA Division 1 state title earlier this month. It was his second consecutive season being named to the WSCA's all-state first team.

Berghauer tallied three goals and an assist over the state tournament weekend, which included a 4-0 semifinal victory over De Pere and a 1-1 tie with Middleton after regulation and overtime in the title game. The Spartans fell to Middleton 4-2 on penalty kicks, ending an undefeated season just shy of a championship.

Berghauer was also recognized in the spring as a second-team all-state player by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association, compiling a .452 batting average while manning center field. He was named to the WBCA's academic all-state team as well for attaining a grade point average of 4.0 or higher.

Brookfield East head soccer coach Brody Kraussel said the decision for Berghauer to pick soccer over baseball for college was a difficult one, but that the individual and team success the senior enjoyed this fall may have moved the needle.

"Ryan is the type of player that can make adjustments extremely quickly, whether it's the pace of the game, a position on the field, or an opponent he is facing. I think he will adjust to Division I college soccer just as fast, allowing him to be an influential player immediately," Kraussel said. "I look forward to watching Ryan succeed and grow as a person and player at UW-Milwaukee."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brookfield East's Ryan Berghauer to play soccer at UW-MIlwaukee