Soccer Preview: St. Mary's game moved to Winona

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ST. MARY'S GAME MOVED: Because of very wet field conditions, and getting wetter, at Nelson Field in Menomonie, the St. Mary's University vs. UW-Stout game for Wednesday, Sept. 5 will be moved to Ochrymowycz Field on the St. Mary's University campus in Winona, Minn. Game time is now scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (1-1-0, 0-0-0 WIAC) will play three games over five days this week. The Blue Devils will travel to St. Mary's University (2-0-0, 0-0-0 MIAC), Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. on the first day of classes for a game that was originally scheduled for Menomonie. Stout returns to Nelson Field to host former conference foe, UW-Superior (0-1-1, 0-0-0 UMAC), Saturday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. Stout will travel to Northfield, Minn., to meet Carleton College (1-0-1, 0-0-0 MIAC) Sunday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m.  

After losing nine starters, to say the Blue Devils will be a different looking team may be a bit of an understatement. The Blue Devils do return two-time All-WIAC pick Sydney Kasper. With 21 career goals, Kasper is currently ranked seventh on the Blue Devil all-time goal scoring list. Kasper last season scored six goals and five assists.

ON-LINE: All Blue Devil home soccer games will be available by Live Stats, and by Live Video, network willing. There have been issues on the field in the past, but hopefully that has been rectified.

PARKING: Parking on the UW-Stout campus is restricted during the business week. For games at Nelson Field during the week, please plan to park in Lot 29. Do not park in Lot 4, which is a reserved lot for students that live in the residence halls.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: : The Blue Devils opened the season with a 2-1 win over Hamline University, Aug. 31, but were held scoreless by St. Catherine, 3-0, Sept. 1. UW-Stout's Sydney Kasper took a pass from Blue Devil newcomer Allison Klotz in the 65th minute and buried the ball high in the opposite corner to give Stout a 2-1 win over Hamline University in the season opener for both teams Friday at Nelson Field. The Pipers took a lead in the 27th minute when Ashlee Olson scored unassisted. The Blue Devils tied the score when Bella Pedlar scored on a penalty shot in the 39th minute. Stout freshman goalkeeper Claudia Anderson recorded one save, as did Piper goalkeeper Dani Wright. Stout's first two shots of the game drew iron, with Hannah Kirschner hitting the pipe in the 13th minute, while a shot by Kasper in the 31st minute hit the cross bar. | Hamline Story and Stats | After an early shot on goal, UW-Stout could not get into an offensive rhythm and were defeated 3-0 by St. Catherine University Saturday at Nelson Field. Just minutes into the game, Stout (1-1-0) freshman Marissa Steele attacked the net, but was stopped by Wildcat (1-0-0) goalie Tayler Koop. Shortly thereafter, St. Catherine scored their first goal of the game when a corner kick by Iryna Talkachova deflected into the net in the seventh minute of the game. The teams parried throughout the rest of the first half, but most of the half was played in the Stout zone as the Wildcats outshot Stout, 5-1, in the first half. The shot deficit would deepen in the second half.  St. Catherine's Allie Bird scored unassisted in the 58th minute and the Wildcats put the game away in the 72nd minute on a goal by Sofia Campbell. All three goals were unassisted. St. Kate's held a 16-3 bulge in shots when the final horn sounded. |  St. Kate Story and Stats

A LOOK AT UW-STOUT: Coming off a third place finish and a fourth seed into the WIAC tournament, the Blue Devils finished 2017 at 9-6-5 overall and 3-1-3 in the WIAC. The Blue Devils lost nine starters from last year's squad. Two-time all-WIAC selection and all-region pick Sydney Kasper leads the way for the Blue Devils after scoring six goals and five assists. Kasper, a team captain, currently has 20 career goals, tying her for seventh on the UW-Stout all-time list. Her 50 career points ranks her 11th on the Stout list and her 10 career assists is tied for 17th. Sarah Dickmann scored three goals last season and Hannah Kirchner had a goal and three assists. Bella Pedlar scored her first career goal last season. The Blue Devils will need to replace nearly their entire starting defense. Senior captain Melissa Rice returns to defense. | 2018 Season Preview | Statistics


A LOOK AT ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY: The Cardinals are the first team in the MIAC to run their record to 2-0 and they did it in a big way with a pair of shutout wins, blanking Martin Luther College, 4-0, then crushing Lawrence University, 7-0, in St. Mary's home opener, with a six-goal second half. St. Mary's is nearly halfway home to matching their wins total from last year when they finished 5-11-2 and went 0-9-2 in conference play. Their 11 total goals so far this season bodes well for the team that scored 33 goals last season. The Cardinals are predicted to finish 11th this year after finishing 12th last season. The Cardinals last year played six overtime games, winning one, tying two and losing three by a 2-1 score. Midfielder Kendall Archer was the only first-year player named to the 2017 All-Conference Team. A 17-game starter and defensive standout for the Cardinals last season, Archer led SMU with 28 shots on the year. Against Martin Luther, four different Cardinals scored, including Mary Loy, who scored the season-opening goal. Loy scored twice against Lawrence, again putting the Cardinals on the board first. She added another goal 20 minutes into the second half. Megan Kowalis scored twice, getting two goals in the final two minutes of the game. Loy leads the team with three goals and an assist. Kassie Ariagas has two goals and an assist. Kowalis and Maura Michener each have two goals. Gabriella Pederson has worked both games in net, and has had to turn away only one shot on frame. | Martin Luther Game and Statistics | Lawrence University Game and Statistics | Season Statistics

THE LAST TIME ST. MARY'S AND STOUT MET:  Bethany Hanson scored in the 21st minute and UW-Stout shut out Saint Mary's University in Winona, Minn., Oct. 17, 2017.  For Hanson, who is now an assistant coach for the Blue Devils, it was her third goal of the season and the first game-winning-goal of her collegiate career. Lynn Johnson recorded two saves for Stout (5-5-5), as did Gabriella Pederson for Saint Mary's (5-9-1).  Overall, the Cardinals out-shot the Blue Devils, 8-7, and held a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks. | Game Story and Stats

THE SERIES: The Blue Devils hold a 7-3-0 lead in the series and have won the last seven meetings.


A LOOK AT UW-SUPERIOR:  The Yellowjackets finished with a 4-13-1 record last season under first-season head coach Allison DeGroot and finished seventh in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). The 'Jackets were picked to finish seventh again in a UMAC preseason poll. On offense the Yellowjackets will rely on the likes of Liza Shelquist, Emily Roe, Chloe Schmaltz and Sarah Fjeran to help carry the load. The veterans will be aided by a large incoming class that will be given the opportunity to contribute immediately. Another boost on the offensive side of the pitch is due to the return of Tatum Lardinois. The junior looks to return to the form that made her an All-U.M.A.C. Second Team pick as a freshman after losing almost all of last season to injury. For the first time in four years, there will be a new goalkeeper between the pipes as the Yellowjackets will look to replace stalwart Bailey Henderson. As of Tuesday, the Yellowjackets have yet to find the back of the net. Their three freshmen goalies have all seen time over the first two games. Morgan Philiber has seen 65 minutes and has not given up a goal. Linnea Bollum has played nearly 95 minutes and has a GAA of 0.95. Madison Gutekunst has given up two goals and is posting a GAA of 4.45. | Season Statistics

YELLOWJACKETS LAST TIME OUT: Superior is 0-1-1 after forging a tie with Lakeland University Sunday.  Morgan Philliber started in goal for the Yellowjackets before giving way to Linnea Bollum in the second half. Philliber then returned to keep goal for both overtime periods. She finished with two saves in 65 minutes of play, while Bollum made three saves in 45 minutes of action. | Game Story and Statistics | UW-River Falls scored a goal in the first period and then doubled the effort with two late goals in second half to down Superior 3-0 on opening day in Superior. Madison Gutekunst got the start in goal for the Yellowjackets and left the game in the 21st minute with an injury, giving way to Linnea Bollum.  Gutekunst then replaced Bollum in the second half and finished the game. She allowed a pair of goals and made five saves in 49 minutes of play. Bollum also finished with five saves and gave up one goal. | Game Story and Statistics

THE LAST TIME SUPERIOR AND STOUT MET:  UW-Stout spread the scoring wealth around as four different players scored goals scattered throughout the game in a 4-0 win over UW-Superior Sept. 13, 2017, at Superior High School.  Sydney Kasper scored in the third minute of the contest for her first goal of the season. Sarah Dickmann, Bethany Hanson and Bethany Hennan also scored as Stout outshot Superior, 23-0, with 12 shots on frame. | Story and Stats

THE SERIES: The Blue Devils hold a 23-0-1 lead in the series. The tie came in 1995, UW-Stout's first season as a varsity program. 


A LOOK AT CARLETON COLLEGE: Carleton College secured the No. 10 spot in the MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Knights are led by senior midfielder Annika Martensson, who returned to the field last season after missing the entire 2016 campaign with a knee injury. Martensson started all 17 matches for the Knights last year, leading the team in minutes played and landing on the All-Conference squad for the first time in her career. The Knights finished last season on a three game winning streak, but did not advance to the MIAC tournament, finishing the season at 8-6-3 overall, 4-4-3 in conference play.  | Season Statistics

THE KNIGHTS LAST TIME OUT: Carleton College defeated Smith College, 2-0, to close out a two-game swing through New England over Labor Day weekend.  Nora Mertz and Hannah Hemmerly  found the back of the net in the win at Northhampton, Mass. | Game Story and Stats | The Knights opened the season with a 1-1 tie at No. 13 Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), Saturday to open the season. Annika Martensson gave Carleton the lead with her goal in the 32nd minute. The senior midfielder blasted a 20-yard shot into the upper right corner following a give-and-go with junior Emma Wasend. The Knights nearly made that tally stand up against the Engineers, who had not dropped a match on their home turf since September 2015, going 24-0-2 over that span. MIT first-year Karenna Groff managed the equalizer with 20 seconds remaining in regulation. Carleton is scheduled to be at Grinnell College, Thursday, Sept. 6.  | Game Story and Stats

THE LAST TIME CARLETON AND STOUT MET:  Carleton started off last season on a four-game winning streak, and one of the victims of tht streak was UW-Stout when the Knights edged the Blue Devils, 3-2, Sept. 8, 2017, at Nelson  Field. The Blue Devils took the lead in their home opener, but could not hang on. Ryanne Millis scored in the 27th minute, but Carleton's Nora Mertz equalized the score in the 30th minute. Stout took the lead back but, Carleton scored two unanswered goals, by Annika Martensson and another by Mertz, to seal the win. | Game Story and Stats

THE SERIES: The Blue Devils have yet to notch a win over the Knights in six attempts. Last year's game was the first time the two teams met since the 2002 season.


BLUE DEVIL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Week One: Offensive athlete of the week: Sydney Kasper, Sr, Owatonna, Minn.; Defensive athlete of the week: Katie Sukanen, Fr, Neenah, Wis.


AWARDS: 2018: playing in her first collegiate weekend, defender Katie Sukanen was named the WIAC defensive player of the week, Sept. 5, after helping hold Hamline University to one goal and eight shots in a 2-1 win, Aug. 31...2017: Midfielder Sydney Kasper earned first team All-WIAC honors as well as all-district honors and Academics All-District honors. Forward Kaitlyn Hess was also a first team all-conference pick...defender Jessica Ingle was the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week after Stout defeated River Falls and tied with Stevens Point, 1-1...Sydney Kasper scored two goals, including the game-winner, in a 3-2 win over Hamline University, Sept. 26, and was named the WIAC offensive player of the week...Lynn Johnson was selected as the WIAC defensive player of the week after making 16 saves in a 1-1 tie with 12th ranked UW-Whitewater, Sept. 30...Kaitlyn Hess was selected as the WIAC offensive player of the week after scoring two goals - including the game winner against Viterbo in a 1-0 win Sept. 23 - in a week that Stout went 1-1-1...Sydney Kasper was selected as the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week after scoring a goal and assist in a 4-0 win over UW-Superior, Sept. 13.


TEAM CAPTAINS: Blue Devil team captains for the 2018 season are Sydney Kasper, Melissa Rice and Sarah Dickmann.

UW-STOUT COACH RYAN RAUFUS: Coach Ryan Raufus (54-60-18) is in his eighth 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. (Raufus began the season at 53-59-18)

QUICK HITS: The Blue Devils have 16 newcomers to the squad, including 14 freshmen. The team also includes two seniors, four juniors and four sophomores...the team is made up of 13 players from Wisconsin, eight from Minnesota and two from Illinois...former players Kelly Conn and Bethany Hanson join the coaching staff.

TWENTY-THREE YEARS OF BLUE DEVIL SOCCER: After many years as a club sport, UW-Stout became the ninth WIAC team to join the varsity ranks during the 1995 season. The Blue Devils took their lumps to open the season, making their premiere by hosting Augsburg College, Sept. 10, in a 7-0 loss. Stout opened the conference season three days later at Nelson Field, hosting perennial conference powerhouse UW-Stevens Point, dropping a 6-0 decision. The Blue Devils finally broke onto the scoreboard in their third game. While hosting UW-Platteville, Sept. 17, Kari Stapleton scored in the 70th minute on an assist from Jenny Tyson in a 2-1 loss. The Blue Devils would get their first-ever win, a 3-0 decision at Martin Luther College, Sept. 23, collecting goals from Amie Frasier, Tyson and Joann Sognesand. Defender Andrea Schroeder was a second team all-conference selection in 1995, then was selected to the first team in 1996. Members of that first 1995 team include: April Amys, Beeta Bastani, Tammy Beuch, Carrie Blaska, Jen Chapple, Michelle Coon, Amie Frasier, Aimee Grimm, Jamie Jester, Julie Kremer, Dorian Loberg, Amy Lyons, Kristin Manion, Anglea McDowell, Andrea Schroeder, Joann Sognesand, Kari Stapleton, Jenny Tyson, Alisa Zimmerman. Lisa Petruccelli was the Blue Devils first coach, leading the team from 1995-98, followed by Dave Morris (1999-2005), Meagan Frank (2006-10) and Ryan Raufus (2011-present). | 1995 Statistics

DOWN THE ROAD: The Blue Devils return home to host Bethel University, the team's fourth MIAC opponent of the season, Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. Stout will be at Ripon College, Sunday, Sept. 16 for a 3:30 p.m. contest.