Blue Devil soccer season comes to an end in WIAC tourney

UW-Stevens Point 4, UW-Stout 1

STEVENS POINT (November 2, 2021) - UW-Stout found out how hard it would be to defeat a team in back-to-back meetings. The Blue Devils lost a 4-1 decision to UW-Stevens Point in the first round of the WIAC Tournament, presented by Culver's, Tuesday afternoon at the UW-Stevens Point Soccer Bowl.

The Blue Devils (11-8-1), who posted the most wins in a season since 2011, had defeated the Pointers, 2-1, Saturday, Oct. 30, and turned around and headed back to Stevens Point for the first round conference game.

The Pointers (9-10-0) jumped out early when McKenzie Johnson, who scored the only goal for the Pointers Saturday, opened the door in the second minute of the contest. The Pointers scored again in the 21st minute on a goal by Bridget Kauzlaric. 

Blue Devil goalie Haley Vokaty would have a busy game. Vokaty stopped eight shots in the first half and nine in the second half for 17 saves, by far the most shots on net she faced all season. 

The Pointers added a third goal, this one in the 59th minute by Kati Frierdich, before Stout would get on the board.

Stout broke up the shutout in the 67th minute when freshman Liv Winkler scored her sixth goal of the year and Marissa Steele added the assist, her eighth of the season, which now leads the WIAC. Stout did put pressure on in the second half, getting five shots on frame after the intermission.

Frierdich closed out the game with a goal in the 88th minute for the final 4-1 score.

The Pointers out-shot Stout 37-12 overall and put 21 shots on net. Stout put seven shots on net, two by Steele, who finished with four overall shots.  The Pointers held an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The game was the final for seniors Caylee Boone, Megan Richardson, Lexie Wescott, and Mekensie Bisel.

Winkler matched fellow freshman Lexi Boyd with six goals this season, the first time a freshman has scored at least six goals in a single season since Jesse Lankford scored six in the 2010 season.