Season Preview: Soccer team intends to carry momentum from last season

MORE: Blue Devils picked fourth in WIAC preseason poll

MENOMONIE (August 12, 2014) – After a slow start in 2013, the UW-Stout soccer team righted the ship during the second half of the season. That is the momentum the Blue Devils would like to carry into the 2014 season.
 
The Blue Devils return four of their six top scorers from last year. For the first time in nearly a decade, Stout landed four players on the All-WIAC team – and three of those players return, including midfielder Jenna Kizlik (Jr, Hammond), goalkeeper Paige Meyer (Jr, River Falls) and forward Lauren Kizlik (So, Hammond).
 
The Kizlik sisters were among the team's leaders in scoring. Lauren was second on the team with five goals and one assist for 11 points, ranking in the top 10 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in scoring. Jenna, who missed nine games, finished with a pair of goals and a pair of assists.
 
Meyer alternated in goal early during the season, but when the calendar turned to October she began to grab the majority of starts, including six during conference play. Meyer finished the year at 5-5-1, posting a goals against average of 1.19 and a saves percentage of .851. In WIAC games only, Meyer was 3-2-0, but dropped her GAA to 0.76.
 
"Paige gained a lot of confidence as the season went on," said Blue Devil coach Ryan Raufus, who begins his fourth season. "At the end of the year, she was a difference maker. Having a good quality goalkeeper gives the entire team confidence."
 
Kristi Schurhammer (Jr, Plainview, Minn), who saw limited action last year, is expected to back Meyer.
 
"We have a good pair of quality goalkeepers," Raufus said.
 
The team built on that confidence throughout the year. With injury and illness taking their toll early, Stout turned around a 2-7-1 start over the first 10 games and finished the final nine games at 6-2-1.
 
Along with Lauren Kizlik up front, leading scorers Kelly Conn (So, Menasha) and Addy Maher (Jr, Racine) return. Conn scored four goals and three assists during her freshman campaign. Maher chipped in a goal and added two assists.  Returners up front also include Ally Gotelaere (Jr, Superior) and Lindsey Concon (Jr, Ashland).
 
Joining Jenna Kizlik in the midfield will be Sarah Ulrich (Jr, Wyoming, Minn), who was injured for nearly the entire year.
 
"Sarah tried to play through the injury, but finally we had to shut her down," Raufus said.
 
Midfield returners including: Camille Fawcett (So, Byron, Minn), Christina Block (Jr, Rochester, Minn), Sarah Todey (So, Maple Grove, Minn), Emma DeRubeis (So, Golden Valley, Minn), and Sarah Stein (So, Verona).
 
Raufus expects the team's offensive attack to take another step forward.
 
"With so many returning players with another year of experience, I believe our attack will be more dangerous," Raufus said.
 
The defense lost two key players from last season, but returns Megan Collins (Jr, Maple Grove, Minn), Vanessa Wrobel (Jr, Rockford, Ill) and Sidney Cottew (So, Minneapolis, Minn). Tara Pichelmeyer (Sr, New London) returns after two years away from the program.
 
With so many players missing games last year, other players had the opportunity to step in and gain valuable game experience.
 
"That experience that was gained should pay off this year," Raufus said.
 
Ulrich, Wrobel and Jenna Kizlik return as team captains, and all are excellent communicators.
 
While satisfaction can be taken with how the season turned around, the ending proved to be bittersweet.
 
Earning a third seed in the WIAC Championship tournament, the Blue Devils won their first tournament game, but came up short in the second round, falling to UW-Oshkosh in a shootout.
 
"We learned how quickly the season can end," Raufus said. "I believe we will use that experience to drive us to work harder and try to meet our goals of finishing in the top of the conference.
 
"This conference is so tough. Doing the little things right will lead to victory."
 
The Blue Devils open the season Friday, Aug. 29 by hosting St. Catherine at 5 p.m.