Soccer Preview: Blue Devils head to La Crosse for WIAC tilt Saturday

Live Stats | Live Video

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (2-7-1, 0-1-0 WIAC) return to conference action, Saturday, Sept. 28 at UW-La Crosse (2-5-1, 1-0-1 WIAC) at 4 p.m..

ON-LINE: UW-:La Crosse is planning to provide Live Stats and Live Video of the game.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT:  UW-Stout's Robbie Shelby (Jr, La Crosse) made a save just before the final buzzer in double overtime to preserve a 0-0 tie between the Blue Devils and Hamline University Tuesday. With only seconds remaining in the final overtime period of the non-conference contest, Hamline (2-4-2) was awarded a corner kick. The ball came into the box, was headed by the Aubrey Stenson and Shelby grabbed the shot to end a six game losing streak for the Blue Devils (2-7-1). Shelby finished the game with 11 saves as the Pipers outshot the Blue Devils,22-8 overall and 11-4 on frame. | Story and Stats 

A LOOK AT STOUT:  UW-Stout has started the season 2-7-1.  Alix Hyduke (Sr, Duluth, Minn.) leads the team in goals, having scored five on the season.  She also leads the team with 11 points.  Kelly Conn (Fr, Menasha) is currently second on the team in goals and points with two and four respectively.  Kelsie Allen  (Sr, Appleton), Paige Meyer (Beldenville) and Lauren Kizlik (Hammond) have each scored one goal on the season.  The Blue Devils have spread their scoring out equally between halves as they have scored five goals in each the first and second half of games so far on the season.  Blue Devil goalies have saved 26 more shots (71-45), than their opponents on the season | 2013 Stats

AWARDS: Alix Hyduke was named the UW-Stout athlete of the week, Sept. 6, after scoring five goals over her first three games, a feat that had been accomplished only once in the annals of UW-Stout soccer.

A LOOK AT UW-LA CROSSE:  UW-La Crosse currently holds a 1-5-1 overall record.  They opened the WIAC season with a 1-1 double overtime tie against UW-Eau Claire.  The Eagles are yet to score a first half goal during the 2013 season and have collected four second half goals.  La Crosse has four players (Jamie Oschenwald, Megan Gresl, Corbin Scholz and Mackenzie Pokorny), who have scored one goal on the season.  Jamie Oschenwald has also added an assist to lead the team with three points.  The Eagles finished in sixth place in the WIAC in 2012.  | 2013 Stats 

EAGLES LAST TIME OUT: La Crosse  earned a 2-0 victory over UW-Stevens Point Wednesday night at Veterans Field. It is UW-L's first win over UW-Stevens Point since a 2-1 double overtime victory in 2003. It is also the Eagles first home win in school history over the Pointers. | Story and Stats

THE LAST TIME STOUT AND UW-LA CROSSE MET:  The Blue Devils and Eagles played to a 1-1 tie on Sept. 15, 2012 in Lacrosse.  | Story and Stats

UW-STOUT COACH RYAN RAUFUS: Coach Ryan Raufus (18-22-4) is in his third year as the head coach of the Blue Devils. Raufus played his college ball at Springfield College in Massachusetts and came to Stout after coaching at La Crosse Logan High School and LaCrescent, Minn., High School.

QUICK HITS:  Senior Alix Hyduke (Duluth, Minn.) currently leads the 2013 team with five goals scored. In scoring her first five goals over the first three games of the season, Hyduke matched Alyssa Halverson as the only Blue Devil to accomplish that feat. Halverson scored her first five goals over three games in 1999 and went on to score 14 goals on the season...Kelly Conn scored her first collegiate goal in the Blue Devils' season opener against Concordia University....sophomore Jenna Kizlik (Hammond) was named the WIAC offensive player of the week Sept. 5, 2012 after scoring the game-winning goal in the season opener against St. Olaf...This year's captains for the Blue Devils are Alix Hyduke,  Emily Ferger (Wauwatosa) and Whitney Solomon (Duluth, Minn.)...Stout hopes to be close to full strength this week as several starters are close to returning from injury. 

DOWN THE ROAD: Stout will be at UW-Superior, Saturday, Oct. 5 at 4:30 p.m.