Soccer Preview: Blue Devils return to Eau Claire for tourney first round

vs. Eau Claire Live Stats | Live Video | WIAC Volleyball Championship

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (5-9-3, 3-4-1 WIAC) earned the sixth seed in the WIAC Championship tournament and will be at UW-Eau Claire, (7-9-2, 5-3-0 WIAC), Tuesday, Nov. 4, for a 2 p.m. contest. A Stout win moves the Blue Devils to a semi-final game at UW-Whitewater, Thursday, Nov. 6. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8 at the highest seeded remaining team. will wind the regular season down this week and will look ahead to the WIAC Tournament next week.

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

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: .  Addy Maher scored with an assist by Jenna Kizlik in the 34th minute and the Blue Devil defense kept UW-Stevens Point out of the goal as Stout earned the sixth seed in the WIAC tournament with a 1-0 win, Nov. 1 at Stevens Point. The goal was Maher's first of the season and the third of her career |  Compete Story and Stats

A LOOK AT UW-STOUT: Lauren Kizlik has a team-high seven goals on the season. Her sister, Jenna Kizlik, has two goals and three assists. Kelly Conn has two goals and four assists. Sarah Todey has two goals and an assist. Kelli Elmer, Kelly Kornmann and Nikki Sedivy each have a goal and an assist. Lindsey Concon and Addy Maher each have a goal.  Emma DeRubuis has a team-high three assists. Paige Meyer has played 1470 minutes in goal and has a GAA of 1.16. The Blue Devils have allowed one goal or less in seven of the eight WIAC contests this season. Kristi Schurhammer snagged her first collegiate win and shutout against UW-Superior, but let her first goal of the season by against Gustavus Adolphus. In 131 minutes, Schurhammer has a GAA of 0.65. As a team, Stout is averaging 1.12 goals per game and giving up 1.18 goals per game.  |   2014 Stats

A LOOK AT UW-EAU CLAIRE: The Blugolds earned the third seed in the WIAC tournament with a 3-2 overtime win at UW-River Falls Nov. 1. Eau Claire sent the game in overtime with less than two minutes remaining on a goal by Sami Matuszek. Tara Dennehy scored the game winner five minutes into overtime.  Tara Dennehy, Caroline Henderson and Sami Matuszek each five goals on the season, with Henderson dishing off three assists, Dennehy two assists and Matuszek one. Henederson has three goals and three assists. Rachel Griffiths and Sammie Lafaive have been splitting the majority of time in front of the twine. Griffiths has three wins and Lafaive two wins. Griffiths has three shutouts, including one over Stout. Griffiths has a goals against average of 0.79 and Lafaive is posting a 1.85 GAA.  | 2014 Stats

THE LAST TIME STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE MET: Caroline Henderson scored in the 34th minute and the Blugolds made the goal standup in a 1-0 win at Eau Claire, Oct. 29. | Story and Stats

AWARDS:  Paige Meyer was the WIAC defensive player of the week Oct. 21 after holding nationally ranked UW-Whitewater to one goal in double overtime...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 (30-33-8) 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.