2019 UW-Stout Soccer Statistics
MENOMONIE (August 20, 2021) – A lot has happened since the UW-Stout soccer team last played a countable game on Nelson Field in October, 2018.
The 2018 season completed, the 2019 season was played completely on the road as Nelson Field's natural turf was replaced with an artificial surface, the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 season and work on the field was completed, allowing soccer to return to Nelson Field for the 2021 season.
And Blue Devil head coach
Ryan Raufus can't wait to get the season underway.
"About three-quarters of our team has never played a countable game at Nelson Field," Raufus said. "This will be so refreshing. It's exciting to have fans back and play before a home crowd, to be able to play under the lights of our field."
The Blue Devils will be sporting a new look, and it won't just be the look of the newly refurbished Nelson Field.
Stout will be boasting the largest roster in program history, with the roster bulging at an expected 34 players coming into preseason camp. Of those 34, 18 are true freshmen and seven are sophomores who came in last year for what proved to be a school year-long off-season. Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) teams were able to practice throughout the year and the Blue Devils did have one scrimmage last spring on Nelson Field.
Last year's team captains of
Lexie Wescott (Lake Geneva),
Caylee Boone (Eau Claire) and
Marissa Steele (Farmington, Minn) – all seniors - lead the returning group, along with
Rachel Younker (Jr, Genoa, Ill), Whitely Carothers (Jr, Hayward),
Mekenzie Bisel (Sr, Dundas, Minn),
Remy Soulak (So, Northfield, Minn) and
Megan Richardson (Sr, Maple Grove, Minn).
"All of our returners have done a nice job of taking the opportunity to be a leader," Raufus said. "All of them have game experience and will be able to share their experiences."
Those that joined the Blue Devils last year are waiting for their first official Blue Devil game, including:
Julia McNamar (Jr, Janesville), a transfer who played collegiately at MSOE,
Alina Swider (So, Milwaukee),
Izzy Swanson (So, Becker, Minn),
McKenzie Baumann (So, Kewaunee),
Renae van der Hagen (So, Sauk Rapids, Minn),
Jamie Hensel (So, Woodbury, Minn),
Kallie Ace (So, Monticello), and
Olivia Lewis (So, East Bethel, Minn).
While the Blue Devils lost the majority of their scorers from the 2019 season, Raufus expects the scoring to come not from just a couple of players, but from across the roster.
"We are not looking for that one person to shoulder the load," Raufus said "We will have multiple players on the field who can score."
The Blue Devils need to fill the gap in goal and will look to freshman
Haley Vokaty (Hugo, Minn) between the pipes.
"Haley comes with big game experience, both in high school and in club," Raufus said. "We think she will step right in and help to lead the defense."
Returning defenders Boone, Bisel, and Carothers will be strengthened with several sophomores and true freshmen, including second team all-state and conference defensive MVP
Hailey Kane (Fr, Green Bay).
While having so many new players to the program may seem daunting, Raufus is looking forward to the experience that will see a lot of underclassmen on the field throughout the season.
"With all of the new players, we are looking for that energy (that comes with youth)," Raufus said. "These players have a lot of experience filling a lot of big roles in their high school and club programs. We will be watching to see who steps up to be a difference maker. We will play to the strengths of this team."
Raufus, who is in his 11
th year with the program, will be joined again by
Joshua Sanderson on the sideline. Sanderson enters his fifth season with the Blue Devils. Marcos Rodriguez will join the coaching staff, bringing a wealth of soccer experience after coaching with St. Croix Academy and Western Wisconsin Soccer Club. Rodriguez will work with the goalies.
In contrast to the last several years, the Blue Devils are scheduled to host 12 home games this season, starting off with the season opener Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. with Concordia-Moorhead. When the Blue Devils kickoff against the Cobbers, it will have been 1050 days since their last home game.
Stout will play eight home games in September and four in October, including the conference opener with UW-Platteville, Friday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m.
