Soccer got it's varsity start 25 years ago; several of last year's games available to watch

Games Available: UW-Stout 3, Ripon College 1 | UW-Oshkosh 1, UW-Stout 0 | UW-Stout 2, Minnesota-Morris 0

MENOMONIE (September 4, 2020) - It's been a long haul since the UW-Stout soccer team played a home game - Oct. 17, 2018 to be exact - and there will not be a home game on the Blue Devils' newly renovated field this year due to the cancellation of the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a delay in the original start time, renovation on the field began just before the start of the 2019 season and the Blue Devils played all 18 games on the road. UW-River Falls became a home-away-from-home for the Blue Devils, with Stout playing host four times at Ramer Field and twice at Bollinger Field in Eau Claire.

Construction on the field was completed this spring and the artificial surface was in place by early summer. But by that time, the pandemic was well underway and the 2020 season was in jeopardy and finally nixed when the WIAC announced on July 28 that all fall sports would be canceled.

Blue Devil team captains for the 2020 season are seniors Lexie Wescott and Caylee Boone and junior Marissa Steele.

While not the same as enjoying a game in person on a beautiful fall day, three of last year's games are available to be viewed at your pleasure. The games against Ripon College, UW-Oshkosh and Minnesota-Morris - all played in River Falls - are available below. The games are also available on Roku TV. Just go to your Roku viewer and search Boxcast. Inside the app, search for Blue Devil athletics and you will find the Blue Devil soccer games - along with other fall and winter offerings.

Unlike the Blue Devil football program, which has had seasons where no football was played (1918, 1943, 1944), the Blue Devil soccer team has played every year since the program began in 1995. This year's season was originally scheduled to open with a pair of games on the West Coast on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2, but those two games were the first games of the season scratched. Until the season was canceled, the next attempt "first game" was scheduled to be Saturday, Sept. 5 when Stout was to host Marian University at 3 p.m. on the newly stretched surface. 

A long needed renovation

Nelson Field, UW-Stout's longest continuous recreational space – the area was first developed in 1935 and has been used ever since – is located at the base of a hill and the field didn't drain well. Rain presented a safety hazard and numerous soccer games were postponed or moved to a different facility. 
 
The field, which was the home site for the Blue Devils football team from 1935 to 2001, was stripped of sod and Sprinturf artificial turf was installed this spring. Nelson Field has been home to Stout's soccer program since 2001.  
 
Work began late last summer to prepare for the artificial surface. A crown on the field was removed and the soccer field was widened and lengthened to meet NCAA specifications. 
 
The project includes a new press box and new LED lighting to improve the lighting on the field and to add new lighting on the adjacent track infield.  
 
The decision to install artificial turf was based on two main factors, said UW-Stout athletic director Duey Naatz - improving the playing surface for the soccer team and providing more accessibility for other users, such as club, recreation and intramural activities. 

Blue Devil soccer started 25 years ago

Twenty-five years ago, 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, Angela 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).