Soccer Preview: Blue Devils host UW-Superior Tuesday

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (1-3-1, 0-0-0 WIAC) will host former WIAC opponent UW-Superior (0-1-0, UMAC), Tuesday, Sept. 13.  Stout was picked to finish sixth in the WIAC, according to a preseason poll conducted by league coaches and sports information directors.

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

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Devils were forced to move their home opener Sept. 7 against Hamline University to Chippewa Falls where the Pipers took a 1-0 win. The Blue Devils opened their home schedule for real with a 2-1 loss to the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Sept. 9, then picked up their first win of the season Sept. 10, a 4-0 win Benedictine University.. | Complete Story and Stats

A LOOK AT UW-STOUT: The Blue Devils will look to stay on the winning note against UMAC opponent UW-Superior this week. Stout has outscored their opponents 6-5, but have found themselves in the losing column three times this season. Averaging 1.20 goals per game, and shooting the ball 9.8 times per game, the Blue Devils look to keep this average up in their next few games. Sydney Kasper has led the offensive charge for Stout, scoring three goals on 12 shots in all five games. Hannah Kirchner and Ryanne Millis scored their first collegiate goals last week against Benedictine. Assists have come from the midfield, three of Stout's four assists on the year have come from a midfielder, the other assist came from Haley Wentz a defenseman.

IN THE GOAL: Graduation took the Blue Devils' starting goalie from the last three seasons, all-WIAC selection Paige Meyer, as well as the Blue Devils' back-up goalie. But Meyer returns in the coaching box and will work with talented freshmen goalies Abby Kirsch and Lynn Johnson. Johnson has taken the majority of the time in goal this season and has been in goal for over 462 minutes. She has made 30 saves, with a saves percentage of 85.7 and a goals against average of 0.97, third in the WIAC. She has also been part of two shutouts, her first collegate shutout coming in a scoreless tie with Concordia-Moorhead. Johnson worked 80 minutes in the Blue Devils' 4-0 win against Benedictine, and shared the shutout with Abby Kirsch, who saw her first collegiate time in the net and had three saves..

A LOOK AT SUPERIOR: The Yellow Jackets will come to Menomonie with only one game under their belt. They opened their season with a lopsided loss to Hamline, losing 10-1, giving up five goals in each half. Tatum Lardinois scored in the 53rd minute for the Yellowjackets only score. Superior is a young team that only has two seniors on the roster. Defenseman/midfielder Madison Briesacher is the returning senior. Bailey Henderson played all 90 minutes in the game against Hamline, saving only nine shots. | Story and Stats
 
THE LAST TIME STOUT AND SUPERIOR MET: In a cold Oct. 28, 2015 game, the two teams met in Duluth, Minn. in PSS Stadium. The Blue Devils outshot the Yellow Jackets 26-8 in the game and secured victory. Stout's Sydney Kasper scored in the 22 minute to give Stout an early lead and the Blue Devils' Jenna Kizlik then scored in the 65 minute to seal victory. Goal keeper Paige Meyer recorded one of her many, many career shutouts in that game, and helped Stout improve to 8-7-2 on the 2015 season. | Story and Stats

AWARDS: Sydney Kasper and Jessica Ingle were selected to the Concordia-Moorhead all-tournament team, Sept. 4.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Blue Devil team captains for the 2016 season are Taylor Poss, Sarah Todey and Kelly Conn.

UW-STOUT COACH RYAN RAUFUS: Coach Ryan Raufus (39-45-12) is in his sixth 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. (has been updated)

QUICK HITS: The Blue Devils posted six shutouts last year, but were kept off the scoreboard six times.

DOWN THE ROAD: The Blue Devils will be at Macalester College, Tuesday, Sept. 20, then return home to host Luther College, Sunday, Sept. 25.