Women's Soccer

UW-Whitewater Selected To Win Women’s Soccer Crown

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the defending conference champion, has been tabbed to win the 2021 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s soccer championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic for all eight WIAC teams.
 
The Warhawks, who also claimed the WIAC tournament crown during the 2019 campaign, have secured seven regular-season championships and five tournament titles in program history. UW-Whitewater welcomes back eight starters, including midfielder Anna Brodjian, who claimed WIAC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2019. Also returning is midfielder Anna Boyd, who is a three-time All-WIAC first team honoree.
 
UW-Eau Claire has won three regular-season championships in program history with the most recent in 2007 and is picked to finish second in the league race.
 
UW-La Crosse owns four regular-season titles, including three of the last five, and is slotted for third in the conference standings. In 2019, defender Katie Feller was recognized as the WIAC Defensive Player of the Year, while midfielder Sydney Halstead secured Newcomer of the Year accolades.
 
The remaining order in the conference predictions features: UW-Stevens Point; UW-Oshkosh; UW-River Falls; UW-Stout; and UW-Platteville.
 
In 2019, the conference had a pair of teams (UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater) receive bids into the NCAA Division III Championship for the second time in three seasons.
 
WIAC teams will begin their non-conference schedules on Sept. 1, while the conference slate will commence on Sept. 29. The top-six teams in the league standings will qualify for the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver’s). The event will be held Nov. 2, 4, and 6, with all matches hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic NCAA bid.
 
2021 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
 
2019 Record
1. UW-Whitewater 14-6-3 overall, 5-1-1 WIAC
2. UW-Eau Claire 14-6, 5-2
3. UW-La Crosse 12-7-3, 4-2-1
4. UW-Stevens Point 11-5-3, 5-2
5. UW-Oshkosh 8-10-1, 3-4
6. UW-River Falls 10-10-1, 2-4-1
7. UW-Stout 5-13, 1-6
8. UW-Platteville 2-15-2, 1-5-1
 
 
Team Capsules
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Sean Yengo; 24th season at UWEC; 270-157-43
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/1
Starters Returning/Lost:  10/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Kiki Kussow, Jr., D (2019-First); Emma Stange, Sr., M (2019-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Megan Hansen, Jr., F; Anna Kautzman, Sr., M; Anna Sveiven, Sr., GK; Lauren Talbot, Sr., D
 
 
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Jason Murphy; 11th season (7th at UWL); 122-65-19 (overall) / 81-32-16 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  20/7
Starters Returning/Lost:  7/4
Returning All-WIAC:  Sophie Amundson, Sr., M (2019-First); Katie Feller, Sr., D (2019-First/Defensive Player of the Year); Sydney Halstead, So., M (2019-First/Newcomer of the Year); Quinn Shannon, Sr., GK (2019-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Ainsley Allen, So., F; Camryn Hart, So., M; Natalie Schisel, So., F; Julia Smith, So., D
 
 
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Erin Coppernoll; 21st season (17th at UWO); 191-167-35 (overall) / 167-122-32 (UWO)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/13
Starters Returning/Lost:  5/6
Returning All-WIAC:  Mallory Knight, Sr., F (2018-First, 2019-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Mackenzie Bennett, Jr., D; Maddie Hill, Jr., M; Rylie Kaufmann, So., F; Maddie Young, So., D
 
 
UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Sam Koenig; 1st season at UWP; 0-0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  5/8
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Amber Lueder, Sr., F (2018-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Leah Kubasta, Sr., F
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Sean McKuras; 19th season at UWRF; 163-159-29
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  8/14
Starters Returning/Lost:  2/9
Returning All-WIAC:  None
 
Notable Returning Players:  Alexis Peterson, So., M; Kelly Patras, Sr., D; Moya Murray, Jr., D; Alayna Westerman, Jr., M
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Dawn Crow; 8th season (6th season at UWSP); 50-67-13 (overall) / 41-43-9 (UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  10/13
Starters Returning/Lost:  7/4
Returning All-WIAC:  Kati Frierdich, Jr., F (2019-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Jacqueline Aleman, Sr., F; Bridgit Kauzlaric, Sr., M; Sophia Reddan, Sr., D
 
 
UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Ryan Raufus; 10th season at UWST; 60-85-19
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  9/10
Starters Returning/Lost:  6/5
Returning All-WIAC:  None
 
Notable Returning Players:  Caylee Boone, Sr. D; Marissa Steele, Sr., M; Lexie Wescott, Sr., D; Rachel Younker, Jr., M
 
 
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Ryan Quamme; 9th season at UWW; 131-37-13
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  14/12
Starters Returning/Lost:  8/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Carley Albrecht, Sr., D (2019-First); Anna Boyd, Sr., M (2017-First, 2018-First, 2019-First); Anna Brodjian, Sr., M (2019/Offensive Player of the Year); Savannah Curtis, Jr., F (2019-First); Katy Kusswurm, Sr., D (2019-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Elizabeth Klein, So., M; Megan Kurtz, So., D; Olivia May, So., F; Carli Nehls, Jr., M
 
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