With four seconds left on the clock, junior Forward Emile Kisse found the upper-left corner to give Wisconsin a 2-1 win over Portland on Sept. 5.
The goal he described as “a little bit of magic,” propelled the Badgers to a 5-0-0 record — the sixth time in program history Wisconsin has opened the season with five consecutive wins.
Kisse has only been with the Badgers a short time, but his impact has been difficult to miss.
Through seven games, Kisse has already tallied three goals and provided an offensive spark for a Wisconsin team that finished 8-8 last season.
Despite scoring the game-winning-goal against the Pilots, he was quick to put the moment in the context of the team, rather than himself.
“Our whole team stayed focused throughout the whole game and fortunately I was lucky enough to reap the rewards,” Kisse told The Daily Cardinal.
He entered his first season with the Badgers as a junior after spending his first two years at Fordham University. He appeared in 34 games for the Rams and totaled 10 points on four goals and two assists.
Before his transition to college soccer, Kisse played for the Toronto FC Academy, earning the club’s Top Goalscorer Award and FTF All-Star First Team Honors. He then played for the North Toronto Nitros and was ranked No. 24 prospect among players born in 2005 in Canada.
Kisse’s time in Toronto helped shape his belief he could one day play professional soccer. Toronto FC assistant coach Marcus Laquie reinforced that narrative and encouraged Kisse to see his potential as more than just a possibility. Laquie pushed him to believe that he could — and should — reach those goals.
When the time came to pursue college soccer, his decision to join Fordham was an easy one.
The coaches and the environment provided what Kisse was looking for to start his collegiate career. After two seasons, he felt that it was time for a new opportunity.
“I just wanted a different challenge,” Kisse said. “Obviously my previous school was in a different conference and we were a good team, but I wanted to see where I could challenge myself at a better conference and fortunately for me, Wisconsin said they were in need.”
The process wasn’t without uncertainty, but Wisconsin eventually emerged as the right fit for Kisse. He was drawn to the ambition of the coaching staff and its plan for the team, while the coaches saw a player who could contribute immediately.
“They told me that I would be the right fit to not only help Wisconsin win and to be a part of their plan, but for me to develop as a football player,” Kisse said.
Since becoming a Badger, Kisse has had to adapt to a new coaching philosophy and playing style. His role is not limited to scoring goals, instead his defensive efforts will become a larger part of his game. For Kisse, individual production is secondary to what Wisconsin can accomplish together.
“As for a team, we obviously have no limits in what we wanna reach,” Kisse said, “We’re just trying to stay focused, take it game by game and just be hungry for more success.”
Even though his ultimate goal is to play professional soccer, he is ready to play his best game at Wisconsin and continue what has been one of the best starts for the Badgers in recent years.
“Right now, my main focus is Wisconsin. I absolutely love it here from the team, the players, the coaching staff, the school itself, the campus, everything makes me enjoy it here,” Kisse said.
Staff Writer
