UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE ATHLETICS

Madison, Wis. - Two-time defending champion the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is the preseason favorite to win the 2010 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s soccer title, according to the league’s sports information directors.

UW-Stevens Point, ranked No. 19 in a NCAA Division III preseason poll conducted by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), received seven first-place votes in the WIAC ballot.  The Pointers own a league-high 13 first-place trophies and have amassed 11 unblemished seasons in conference play.  This year’s squad returns 10 starters from last season’s unit that allowed only two goals in the eight-match league slate. 

UW-L is projected to finish seventh in 2010. The Eagles, 4-12-1 overall and 2-6 in the WIAC last season, return 15 letter winners and eight starters. Ten of 13 players who recorded a point last year are back, including the top-four.  Sophomore forward Lindsay Wilde led the squad in goals, assists and points last season. She earned All-WIAC First Team honors a year ago as did junior defender Jamie Wiepz.

The Eagles lost four matches by one goal in 2009 and went 3-5-1 at their newly constructed Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.

Head coach Sara Burton begins her 17th season at UW-L with a career record of 144-117-21.

UW-L opens its 2010 season at Beloit College (Wis.) Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m.

UW-Eau Claire claimed the remaining two first-place votes in the league poll and is slotted for second in the nine-team derby.  The Blugolds have claimed three WIAC crowns and placed second seven times.  The Blugolds return their top-six point scorers from last season, including 40 of the team’s 50 goals. 

UW-Whitewater has placed in the top four of the WIAC ledger each of the last three years and reach double-digits in wins all three seasons.  The Warhawks are the league's third-place team in the preseason poll. This year’s squad is features junior forward Emily Gerber who became the first player in program listings to earn WIAC Player of the Year honors. 

UW-Oshkosh returns 10 of its 11 starters from 2009, including six who started all 19 matches.  Players who combined to score 31 of UW-Oshkosh’s 32 goals return to this year’s team as the Titans are projected to place fourth overall. 

UW-River Falls is picked to finish fifth followed by UW-Stout, UW-L, UW-Platteville and UW-Superior.  UW-River Falls totaled 39 goals during the 2009 campaign and returns every player that tallied a goal.  UW-Stout’s 2010 roster features five of the six leading scorers from the 2009 club as the Blue Devils dropped 10 matches by one goal.

UW-Platteville returns 17 letterwinners and eight starters - both totals are the second-most in school history.  UW-Superior’s 2010 schedule features a school-record tying 10 matches at home (also in 1997 and 2006) and commences with five of six matches on the road.