Soccer Preview: Blue Devils look to bounce back with Luther Sunday

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (2-4-1, 0-0-0 WIAC) will travel to Macalester College (3-1-2, 0-1-1 MIAC), Tuesday, Sept. 20, and then host IIAC opponent Luther College (3-2-1, 1-0-0 IIAC) Sunday Sept. 25. 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:   Over the last two games, UW-Stout scored a total of 10 goals and allowed none. The tables were turned Tuesday night as the Blue Devils were kept scoreless in a 2-0 loss at Macalester College. Macalester's Natalie Prescott opened up the scoring in the 14th minute. The Scots (4-1-2) outshot the Blue Devils' (2-4-1) by a 17-7 overall tally and a 9-3 advantage in shots on net. Macalester doubled the score in the 77th minute on a goal by Pia Mingkwan. Stout's Sarah Todey had a couple of shots on net over the final 13 minutes, but could not get the ball over the line. Lynn Johnson recorded seven saves for Stout.Stout won handily last week as they faced UMAC opponent UW-Superior, winning the game 6-0. In the game, Sarah Todey and Sydney Kasper both scored two goals; Todey also added an assist in the game. The shutout was split between two goalies, Lynn Johnson and Abby Kirsch. Johnson played the first half, and Kirsch played the second. | Complete Story and Stats

A LOOK AT UW-STOUT: The Blue Devils will look to continue their winning streak this week as they face Macalester and Luther College. The team has been on an scoring streak lately, producing 10 goals in only two games, bringing their season total to 12, averaging 2.00 goals/game. The defense has also looked sharp, not allowing a single goal in the last two games, and allow opponents 0.83 goals/game. Sydney Kasper leads the game in goals, scoring on one third of shots (5 goals/15 shots on goal), she has shot the ball 11 more times that the next player, Sarah Todey, who only has six shots on goal this season. Todey and Sarah Dickman lead the team in assists, both notching two on the year. 

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, she has been in goal for over 507 minutes. She has made 31 saves, averaging a percentage of 86.1. She also has tallied three shutouts, which came 0-0, 4-0 and 6-0 wins. Abby Kirsch saw an entire half of playing time against UW-Superior, in the game she had seven total saves, perserving the shutout.


A LOOK AT MACALESTER COLLEGE: The Scotts have seen a lot of action early in the season. They have three wins under their belt, and have even played a familiar WIAC opponent UW-Stevens Point, winning the game 1-0. They have kept games close throughout, scoring two or more goals on only two occasions. Their best game of the season came against Lawrence College as the Scots won 9-0, in a game where seven different players scored goals for Macalester and Elizabeth Han and Quinn Rafferty. | Story and Stats
 
THE LAST TIME STOUT AND MACALESTER MET: The two teams tied in the first game for both teams to start the 2015 season on Sept. 1. Stout produced seven shots, compared to Macalester's 14 shots. Paige Meyer recorded seven saves for Stout and Rachel King-Wilson recorded one save. The teams went into double-overtime, but each team was unable to score. | Story and Stats


A LOOK AT LUTHER COLLEGE: Luther has had an interesting start to their season. The first game of the season was moved to Winona, Minn. due to 7.5 inches of rain and flooding in the area. The second game was cancelled because of lighting hazard and the third game was moved to Austin, Minn. because of more flooding on the home pitch. Overall the team has faired well, going 2-1-1 in that stretch and beating UW-Eau Claire last week, 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by forward Marta Springer in double overtime. | Story and Stats

 THE NORSE LAST TIME OUT: Marta Springer scored two goals as Luther blanked Coe College yesterday in conference action in Decorah, Iowa. Springer scored with an assist by Ellie Bunz in the 35th minute, then put the Norse up 2-0 scoring unassisted in the 52nd minute. Halina Pyzdrowski scored unassisted in the 81st minute.

THE LAST TIME STOUT AND LUTHER MET: Stout fell to Luther in their last contest, which took place Sept. 2, 2012 in St. Joseph, Minn. The teams were knotted at one after goals from Luther at the 15-minute mark and Stout's Emily Stanke at the 30-minute mark. The teams battled until a single-overtime goal was scored by Luther at the 95-minute mark. This game was now graduated goalie Paige Meyer's first start, she recored nine saves in the game. | 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 Whitewater Oct. 1 and then back to Menomonie to face River Falls Oct. 5.