Soccer Preview: Blue Devils seek to get back on track against Superior

 UW-Superior Live Stats


THIS WEEK'S GAMES: When the week is over for the Blue Devils (2-7-3, 1-2-1 WIAC) they will have played four games over a seven-day stretch, culminating in Friday night's late game with  UW-Superior (3-8-1, 0-3-0 WIAC) at 8 p.m. The Blue Devils have been able to generate some offense, but have nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Stout has not found the back of the net over the last five games. The four game home stretch leaves only one home game left on Stout's regular schedule, that coming on Wednesday, Oct. 22, against Gustavus Adolphus.

ON-LINE: All Blue Devil home soccer games will be available by Live Stats, network providing.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: On a brisk fall night at Nelson Field, the UW-Stout's soccer team fell to the Pipers of Hamline University, 2-0. The two teams matched each other with six shots apiece, but Hamline was able to put five on goal compared to just three for Stout. The Blue Devils took six corner kicks compared to just two for the Pipers.  Hamline scored once in each half with the first goal coming in the 10th minute when Malya Hirshkowitz sent a looping shot to the upper right corner of the net that just evaded Stout goalie Paige Meyer's outstretched arms. The Pipers added their second goal in the 88th minute when Anna Futterer poked one past Meyer. |  Compete Story and Stats

A LOOK AT UW-STOUT: Jenna Kizlik and Lauren Kizlik both have a pair of goals to lead Stout in scoring. Jenna Kizlik has added an assist. Kelly Conn got on the stat sheet a week ago when she scored and tallied an assist against UW-Platteville. Sarah Todey, after missing the first several games, scored her first collegiate goal and has tallied an assist. Nikki Sedivy and Emma DeRubuis each have an assist.  Paige Meyer has a goals against average of 1.29 and has played all but 24 minutes between the pipes. Kristi Schurhammer played the other 24 minutes and has stopped the four shots she has faced. The Blue Devils have allowed more than two goals only once the season, have four games of holding their opponent to one goal and have recorded two shutouts. . Stout is picked to finish fourth in the WIAC, according to a WIAC preseason poll. |   2014 Stats

A LOOK AT UW-SUPERIOR: The Yellowjackets are in the same boat as the Blue Devils - and both will be looking to get out of the boat. After a three game winnings streak in mid-September the Yellowjackets have been held scoreless over the last four games, having been outscored 17-0 in the stretch. Superior lost 3-0 to UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 1, and 4-0 to UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 4. Katelyn Adams and Rachel Rossiter each have two goals and an assist, while Lily Marcelius has a goal and two assist. Shelby Coombs, RAchel Wallace and Katrina Gephart each have a goal and an assist. Goalkeeper Bailey Henderson, who was the WIAC defensive player of the week in September, has worked all but six minutes between the pipes and has a 3.40 GAA.   | 2014 Stats

THE LAST TIME STOUT AND SUPERIOR MET: Seven different players scored goals as UW-Stout had an offensive explosion in a 7-1 win at UW-Superior Oct. 5, 2013. Whitney Solomon, Alix Hyduke and Jenna Kizlik each scored unassisted within the first 22 minutes of the game. Superior got onto the scoreboard in the 25th minute on a free kick by Nichole Caster and Stout took a 3-1 lead into halftime. Stout scored four unanswered goals in the second half. Lauren Kizlik, Kelly Conn, Sarina Umlauf and Addy Maher put their names into the scorebook. Stout outshot Superior, 35-4 overall, and 19-3 on net. Stout's Paige Meyer made two saves and her counterpart, Alexandra Paige had 12 saves. | Story and Stats

AWARDS:  Paige Meyer, Jenna Kizlik, Lauren Kizlik and now assistant coach Emily Ferger were selected to the All-WIAC team, onlly the second time Stout has placed four players on the squad.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Blue Devil team captains for the 2014 season are Sarah Ulrich, Vanessa Wrobel and Jenna Kizlik.

UW-STOUT COACH RYAN RAUFUS: Coach Ryan Raufus (27-31-8) is in his fourth 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 La Crescent, Minn., High School.

QUICK HITS:  The Blue Devils overcame a slow start last season. Hampered by early season injuries, Stout won two of their first 10 games, but won six of their final nine games.

DOWN THE ROAD: After four games in seven days, the Blue Devils will get a chance to catch their breath before heading to UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Oct. 18 for a 6 p.m. contest.