WIAC Season Preview and Poll
MENOMONIE (August 21, 2018) – Forgive UW-Stout women's soccer coach
Ryan Raufus and his staff if, during the first few days of preseason camp, they are walking around with team rosters in their hands.
Raufus, entering his eighth season as the Blue Devil head coach, welcomes 19 newcomers to the program, of which 17 are freshmen.
After graduating a large senior class last season, the Blue Devils return eight players from the 2017 squad. But having so many new faces does not change Stout's expectations.
"We still have the same goals, the same high expectations," Raufus said. "We know that we will have to do more teaching to incorporate 19 new players into our system."
The Blue Devils were picked to finish fourth in a preseason poll conducted by league coaches and sports information directors.
Raufus knows the incoming class will have an impact on the future of the program, and not just because of the sheer numbers.
"There are some really talented players coming into the program," Raufus said. "We are excited about what this group can bring."
Leading the returners will be team captains
Sydney Kasper (Owatonna, Minn),
Melissa Rice (Madison) and
Sarah Dickmann (Shawano). Kasper and Rice are the team's only seniors and Dickmann is one of three returning juniors.
Kasper, a forward, has been among the team's leading scorers each of her first three seasons. The all-region and two-time first team all-conference selection last season was second on the team in both goals scored with six and assists with five.
"Syd has just been a phenomenal player for us," Raufus said. "She is a great person, a great leader, a great teammate and she can certainly create scoring opportunities."
Kasper has 20 career goals, putting her seventh on the all-time goals list, and has 10 career assists, doubling her career assists totals last season.
"She has a positive impact on the game for everyone around her," Raufus said. "Syd just makes players around her better."
Rice, a defender, has started during her sophomore and junior year and last season played in every game.
"Melissa's play for us in the back will be very important," Raufus said. "We expect her to expand her role as a leader on defense."
Dickmann, a midfielder, has started 37 games for the Blue Devils, scoring three goals last season, including an early goal to tie the game in an eventual 2-1 win over UW-Eau Claire.
Bella Pedlar and
Hannah Kirchner each scored key goals for the Blue Devils last year. Pedlar, a midfielder, scored the game-tying goal in a 1-1 decision with nationally ranked UW-Whitewater, while Kirchner, a midfielder, scored the game-winner in double overtime with UW-Stevens Point.
"Hannah and Bella have scored important goals for us," Raufus said, "and we will be asking them to step up again this season."
Returning sophomores
Adrianna Rieger (So, Milwaukee),
Lexie Wescott (So, Lake Geneva) and
Lexi Fernandez (So, St. Charles, Minn) each saw limited action last season. Rieger, is in all likelihood, out for the season due to injury.
"I believe they are looking forward to showing us what they can do," Raufus said.
Transfer
Allison Klotz (Jr, Port Washington), a forward, played two years at Mount Mary in Milwaukee, last season scoring 15 goals and had a four-goal game against Eureka College. Klotz ranked in the top 50 in the NCAA Division III in goals scored in 2017.
Caylee Boone (So, Eau Claire), a forward, transferred from UW-Eau Claire where she played with the club team.
Katie Sukanen (Fr, Neenah) and
Sam Krugel (Fr, Sheboygan) were both on campus last school year, but did not join the soccer team until the spring season. Sukanen is also a member of the Blue Devil women's basketball team.
With eight returners, at a minimum there will be three newcomers on the field. With no returning goalkeepers, the goal is one of those areas where someone new will have to step up.
Either freshmen
Melissa Ferrise (Oconomowoc) or
Claudia Anderson (North Branch, Minn) will be in goal for the season opener.
"I am excited about our incoming 'keepers," Raufus said. "The preseason will determine who plays."
"Our returners are looking forward to the season," Raufus said. "They are looking forward to seeing how 19 newcomers can impact the program."
The Blue Devils will be tested early as Stout opens the season with a four-game home-stand.
Stout opens by hosting Hamline University, Friday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. The Blue Devils edged the Pipers last season, 3-2, and the Pipers went on to come up one game short of qualifying to the four-team MIAC tournament. The following night, Saturday, Sept. 1, the Blue Devils will host St. Catherine, a team that advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament.
Stout stays at home to host St. Mary's University, Wednesday, Sept. 5 and UW-Superior, Saturday, Sept. 8. Stout plays seven home games during the first month of the season.
Stout has never opened the season with four consecutive home games. The team opened the 1995 season, the Blue Devils' inaugural season, with three consecutive home games.
