Women's Soccer

2024 WIAC Women’s Soccer Preview

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the two-time defending champion, has been selected to claim the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s soccer regular-season title, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Eagles won the sixth regular-season crown in program archives last season and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III Championship for the second time in three years. UW-La Crosse has recorded at least 20 wins each of the last two seasons to become just the second program in the WIAC to accomplish the feat (UW-Whitewater in 2015 and 2016). The Eagles bring back nine returners from a year ago, including Alexis McMahon (2022 and 2023 WIAC Defensive Player of the Year), Ellie Arndt (2023 Offensive Player of the Year) and Sophia Anger (2023 WIAC Goalkeeper of the Year).
 
UW-Eau Claire is slotted for second in the conference race. The Blugolds have three regular-season titles with the most recent in 2007. This year’s roster features eight returning starters, including Kennedy Boll, Paige Crawford, and Elise Pinewski – all earned All-WIAC first team honors in 2023. UW-Eau Claire has reached double-digits in overall wins four consecutive seasons and three years with at least four WIAC victories in that stretch.
 
UW-Platteville is picked to finish third in the conference standings. The Pioneers accumulated at least 10 overall victories during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. It is the first time in program history that feat has been accomplished. Additionally, the seven WIAC wins in the last two years are the most in consecutive seasons. UW-Platteville has 10 starters back, including All-WIAC first team selections Arianna Lombardi and Lydia Smith.
 
WIAC teams will begin their non-conference schedules on Aug. 30, while the conference slate will commence on Oct. 2. The top-six teams in the league standings will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s). The event will be held Nov. 5, Nov. 7 and Nov. 9, with all matches hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic NCAA bid.
 
2024 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
 
2023 Record
1. UW-La Crosse (20-1-2 overall, 7-0 WIAC)
2. UW-Eau Claire (10-5-4, 4-2-1)
3. UW-Platteville (10-3-5, 4-1-2)
4. UW-Oshkosh (5-10-4, 3-3-1)
5. UW-Stevens Point (8-11-1, 3-4)
6. UW-Whitewater (5-9-5, 1-4-2)
7. UW-River Falls (6-8-4, 1-4-2)
8. UW-Stout (5-11-2, 1-6)
 
 
Team Capsules
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Sean Yengo; 27th season at UWEC; 303-177-51
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  28/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  8/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Kennedy Boll, Sr., GK (2023-First); Paige Crawford, Jr., D (2023-First); Kori Millis, Sr., M (2023-Honorable); Elise Pinewski, Sr., M/F (2022-First, 2023-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Ava Glenn, Jr., M; Sophie Hubbard, Sr., M; Ava Johnson, Jr., F; Savannah Swopes, Jr., M/D
 
 
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Jason Murphy; 14th season (10th at UWL); 179-72-26 (overall) / 138-39-23 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  22/10
Starters Returning/Lost:  9/2
Returning All-WIAC:  Sophia Anger, Sr., GK (2023-First/Goalkeeper of the Year); Ellie Arndt, Sr., M (2022-First, 2023-First/Offensive Player of the Year); Ellie Behnke, Sr., M (2022-First); Alexis McMahon, Sr., D (2021-First, 2022-First/Defensive Player of the Year, 2023-First/Defensive Player of the Year); Addie Pauling, Sr., D (2022-First, 2023-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Chelsea Gale, Sr., M; Sophie Pope, Sr., D; Sera Speltz, Jr., M; Lindsey Szymanski, Jr., F
 
 
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Erin Coppernoll; 24th season (20th at UWO); 217-188-46 (overall) / 193-143-43 (UWO)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  13/9
Starters Returning/Lost:  7/4
Returning All-WIAC:  Molly Jackson, Sr., M (2021-First/Newcomer of the Year; 2023-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Ariana Gonzalez, So., M; Maris Heun, So., F; Anika Roush, Jr., M; Emma Sauriol, Sr., GK
 
 
UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Eliza Denmeade; 2nd season at UWP; 10-3-5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  22/10
Starters Returning/Lost:  10/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Arianna Lombardi, Jr., M (2023-First); Lydia Smith, Jr., F (2022-First, 2023-First); Anna Spindle, Jr., M (2023-Honorable); Madison Way, So., GK (2023-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Lauren Lodico, Sr., D; Alyssa Peterson, Sr., F; Lexi Ward, So., D
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Sean McKuras; 22nd season at UWRF; 184-185-39
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  23/7
Starters Returning/Lost:  8/3
Returning All-WIAC:  Haley James, Sr., D (2023-Honorable); Aliviah McClinton, Sr., F (2023-First); Madyson Shew, Sr., F (2023-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Lauren Best, Jr., F; Emery Bigler, So., F; Ellie Ketcher, So., F; Grace Zellmer, Sr., GK
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Dawn Crow; 11th season (9th at UWSP); 74-98-18 (overall) / 65-74-14 (UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  18/3
Starters Returning/Lost:  10/1
Returning All-WIAC:  Madison Culli, Sr., F (2023-Honorable); Gabby Dunn, Sr., F (2023-First); Mara Gustafson, Sr., D (2023-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Jessica Camarato, Sr., M; Kaitlan Jones, So., D; Cass Klitzke, Jr., F; Savannah Reed, Sr., M
 
 
UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Ryan Raufus; 13th season at UWST; 78-116-25
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  24/6
Starters Returning/Lost:  7/4
Returning All-WIAC:  Hannah Hagman, Jr., D (2023-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Lauren Boyd, Sr., M; Lauren Chukel, Sr., M; Carly Kaufman, Sr., M; Ava Thomas, Jr., F/M
 
 
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Dan Montanye; 2nd season at UWW; 5-9-5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  16/11
Starters Returning/Lost:  7/4
Returning All-WIAC:  Jude Dobrinska, Jr., GK (2022-First/Co-Goalkeeper of the Year & Newcomer of the Year); Juliana Madonia, Sr., M (2022-First, 2023-Honorable); Emily Thill, Sr., M (2022-First, 2023-First)
 
Notable Returning Players:  Jordyn Czarapata, Sr., M; Anna Gunderson, So., D; Margot Yelle, Sr., D; Gianna Zamrorini, So., F
 
# # # # #