This Week in Blue Devils Athletics: March 16-22

MEN'S ICE HOCKEY

The UW–Stout men's hockey team earned its first NCAA Tournament victory in 17 years, defeating Anna Maria College 4–1 in the opening round Saturday night.

The Blue Devils opened the scoring midway through the first period when Gunner Moore found the back of the net at the 11:11 mark off a feed from Arhip Sidarovich to give Stout a 1-0 lead.

Stout doubled the advantage late in the period as Tristan Therrien finished a play from Hayden Stocks and Nicolas Pigeon at 17:10. The goal proved to be the game-winner.

The Blue Devils added to their lead just 1:30 into the second period. Stocks scored off an assist from Will Sinclair to push the lead to 3-0.

With the win, the Blue Devils advance to face Utica University on March 21 at 7 p.m. ET at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, N.Y.

TRACK & FIELD

UW-Stout's Leah Zastrow captured the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championship in the women's pole vault Friday, clearing a school-record 4.15 meters (13' 7¼").

Raegan Sorensen also reached the podium, tying for third place with a personal-best clearance of 4.00 meters (13' 1½") to earn All-America honors. 

In the men's pole vault, Braden Krystosek cleared 4.93 meters (16' 2") to place 11th overall, while Sam Knox also cleared 4.93 meters to tie for 13th place. Both athletes earned Second-Team All-America honors.

Thomas Casey added another All-America performance for the Blue Devils, running 8.13 in the men's 60-meter hurdles.

SOFTBALL

The Blue Devils opened their Spring Break trip to Clermont, Fla., winning four of their first six games. 

Stout fell 5-4 to Ohio Northern on Friday but beat Thomas College (Maine) 10-1 in five innings. On Saturday, Stout opened with a 10-0, five-inning win over Western New England, before dropping an extra-inning game 7-6 to Calvin. Stout swept both games on Sunday, topping Framingham State 7-6 in eight innings and beating McDaniel College 13-4. 

The team will play six more games in Florida this week: Hartwick and SUNY Morrisville on Tuesday, March 17; U Chicago and Meredith College on Wednesday, March 18; and Coe College and SUNY Geneseo on Thursday, March 19.

LACROSSE

The Blue Devil lacrosse team wen 1-2 in three games this week. falling 18-10 to Eau Claire, beating Concordia Wisconsin 14-9 and dropping a close 13-11 contest to Trine University. 

 Mai Nou Vang led the charge, scoring 20 goals and adding six assists for a total of 16 points on 15 shots. She also contributed 12 ground balls and 16 draw controls.

The Blue Devils will play Saint Mary's College on Wednesday, March 18 in Notre Dame, Ind. 

BASEBALL

The Blue Devils dropped their opening game of their spring break trip to Davenport, Fla., 4-3 to Rutgers-Newark on Saturday.

The Blue Devils game with Franklin and Marshall on Sunday was canceled due to weather. 

Stout will play games this week, matching up against St. Joseph's University Brooklyn on Monday, March 16; Saint John's (MN) on Tuesday, March 17; St. Norbert College on Wednesday, March 18; and Carleton and Ripon on Thursday, March 19.

GYMNASTICS

The University of Wisconsin-Stout gymnastics team will send Jamie Beatty, Sarah Lutz and Jessica Qwualich to compete at the 2026 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship on Friday, March 20, at 2 p.m. (ET) at Whitney T. Corey Gymnasium in Cortland, N.Y.

TENNIS

The Blue Devils will play four matches in Orlando, Fla. over spring break. 

Stout will face Western Connecticut State on Monday, March 16. Webster Univ. and Shippensburg University on Tuesday, March 17 and close the trip with a match against Bethel Univ. on Wednesday, March 18.