2004 WIAC Women's Soccer Headlines
Five Named To All-Central Region Women's Soccer Team
RELEASED: Tuesday, December 7, 2004
Madison, Wis.--Five Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer players have been named to the 2004 adidas/National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Central Region Team. UW-Oshkosh's Michelle John and UW-Stout's Carrie Schrank were named to the second team, while UW-Stevens Point's Melissa Becker and Tara Schmitt and UW-Stout's Melissa Ballweg were third team choices.
John, a sophomore midfielder from Whitefish Bay, Wis., started all 22 matches this year and tallied five goals and eight assists for 18 points.
Schrank, a senior midfielder from Reedsburg, Wis., finished the 2004 season with eight goals and 13 assists for 29 points. Her 13 assists ranked third in the conference, while her 29 points placed ninth. Last year, Schrank led the NCAA Division III in assists per game and currently holds the school career record with 42 assists.
Ballweg, a senior goalkeeper from Merrimac, Wis. (Sauk Prairie H.S.), led the WIAC with a .861 save percentage and was second with a 1.02 goals against average. She finished the season with a 15-3-2 overall record and her career win-loss record was 38-18-7, the most wins by a UW-Stout goalkeeper. Her career goals against average of 1.18 is also a school record.
Schmitt, a senior defender from Brookfield, Wis. (Catholic Memorial H.S.), helped the Pointers record nine shutouts and a 1.20 goals against average. She registered one goal this season in a 2-1 overtime victory against Rochester Institute of Technology on September 5 as she earned Most Valuable Player honors in the RIT Tournament. Schmitt earned second team all-region honors during her freshman season.
Becker, a senior midfielder from Rhinelander, Wis., compiled eight goals and five assists for 21 points in 2004.
The NSCAA all-Central Region team is comprised of individuals representing the WIAC, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Midwest Conference, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Lake Michigan Conference.
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UW-Stout's Schrank Named To Academic All-America Women's Soccer Team
RELEASED: Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stout's Carrie Schrank has been named to the 2004 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Women's Soccer First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Schrank, a senior midfielder from Reedsburg, Wis., is majoring in graphic design and posts a 3.88 grade point average. She was a third team Academic All-America selection last season. Schrank earned all-WIAC first team honors in 2004 after finishing with eight goals and 13 assists for 54 points. She is the school's all-time assists leader with 42.
Schrank has received the Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence six times and has received the Comer, Nisken & Reedsburg SGA scholarships, earned the Edward and Dorothy Decker Endowed Scholarship and is a recipient of the President's Student Service Award.
The Academic All-America Team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes from around the country.
# # # # # UW-Stevens Point's Schmitt Headlines All-WIAC Women's Soccer Team
RELEASED: Thursday, November 11, 2004
Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Tara Schmitt was voted the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year, headlining the 23-member all-WIAC Women's Soccer Team, which was recently selected by the league coaches.
Schmitt helped the Pointers to the WIAC regular-season and tournament championships this season. It was their 11th regular season crown in the 13-year history of the conference, their eighth straight league tournament title and 12th in the 13-year history of the event. She leads a defense that has recorded eight shutouts and a 1.12 goals against average this year. Schmitt has registered one goal this season in a 2-1 overtime victory against Rochester Institute of Technology on September 5 as she earned Most Valuable Player honors in the RIT Tournament.
Schmitt earned her fourth career all-conference honor, becoming the fourth individual in team history to accomplish the feat. She joins Becky Brem (1992-95), Jenny Bruce (2000-03) and Charisse Simcakowski (1992-95) as four-time honorees.
Schmitt becomes the fifth individual from UW-Stevens Point to claim the player of the year honor, joining Kelly Fink (2003), Molly Cady (2002), Mickey Jacob (2001) and Marie Muhvic (2000).
Joining Schmitt on the all-WIAC team were Melissa Becker, Megan Frey and Alyssa Souza. Becker places 17th in the conference with five assists and 18th with 17 points, while Frey has started all 20 matches and ranks fifth in the WIAC with nine assists. Frey earned all-conference status for the second consecutive season.
Souza has also started all 20 matches for the Pointers and ranks 10th in the league with 25 points, 11th with 10 goals and 17th with five assists.
UW-Eau Claire had four individuals secure all-WIAC accolades for their efforts this season. Marcia Foltz and Kelly Peterson earned all-WIAC honors after tying for the team lead with six goals and 14 points and each adding two assists. Foltz claimed league accolades for the second consecutive year.
The Blugolds' Emily Meisinger and Becky Westbrock spearheaded a defense that posted six shutouts and a 1.74 goals against average.
UW-La Crosse's Stephanie Harbaugh, Mandy Rue, Jayna Stransky and Julie Taylor helped the team post the most victories (11) since the 1999 season when the squad accumulated 12 wins. Harbaugh started 18 matches and leads the conference with eight shutouts and a 0.95 goals against average, while placing second with a .843 save percentage.
Rue ranks eighth in the league with 29 points and 12 goals and is 17th with her five assists. Stransky started all 19 matches and helped the team lead the conference with a 0.98 goals against average, while Taylor contributed two goals and two assists for six points in 19 starts. Taylor also earned all-league honors during the 2001 season.
UW-Stout established a school record with 13 overall victories and six WIAC wins this season and had four individuals receive all-conference honors. Melissa Ballweg recorded four shutouts and leads the league with a .853 save percentage, while ranking third with a 1.14 goals against average.
Shannon Hermes earned all-WIAC status for the second straight season. She leads the conference with 41 points and 15 assists, while ranking fourth with 13 goals.
Carrie Schrank ranks fifth in the league with nine assists, 10th with 25 points and 12th with eight goals. She secured all-conference honors for the second consecutive year and holds the school record with 39 career assists.
Kelly Stolarczyk places second in the WIAC with 38 points and 14 goals, while ranking third with 10 assists. Her 14 goals this year tied the school single-season record. UW-Oshkosh's Michelle John, Nicole Kunick and Stacy Stroud were all recognized on the all-WIAC team after the Titans tied a school record with 15 victories. John started all 22 matches and ranks eighth in the league with eight assists and 15th with 18 points.
Kunick ranks second in the WIAC with 14 goals, while placing sixth with 32 points. She also leads the league with five game-winning goals this season. Stroud participated in all 22 matches this year and helped the team record eight shutouts and a 1.01 goals against average, which is the second-best mark in the league.
UW-River Falls' Sarah Carlson earned all-conference honors for the second consecutive year after being named the Player of the Year last season. She ranks second in the league with 13 assists, third with 37 points and eighth with 12 goals. Carlson set a conference record with 14 points against UW-Superior on September 28, while tying a school record with her four goals and matching a league mark with her six assists.
The Falcons' Amy Jensen ranks 15th in the WIAC with 18 points and 16th with seven goals, while Ashley Peterson claimed all-league accolades for the second straight year after placing fourth in the conference with 13 goals, fifth with 34 points and eighth with eight assists.
UW-Whitewater's Jacie Hein earned all-WIAC honors for the first time in her career after leading the team with eight goals and 17 points. Her 17 points rank 18th in the conference.
UW-Stevens Point head coach Sheila Miech was voted the Coach of the Year by the league coaches for the sixth time in her career. She also claimed the award in 2001, 2000, 1997, 1994 and 1992. Miech is the winningest coach in WIAC history and has compiled a 265-82-22 record (.748 winning percentage) in her 18 seasons with the Pointers.
2004 All-WIAC Women's Soccer Team Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School) Melissa Ballweg, Stout, Senior, Goalkeeper, Merrimac (Sauk Prairie) Melissa Becker, Stevens Point, Senior, Midfielder, Rhinelander Sarah Carlson, River Falls, Junior, Forward, Plymouth, Minn. (Armstrong) Marcia Foltz, Eau Claire, Junior, Forward, Madison (Memorial) Megan Frey, Stevens Point, Senior, Midfielder, Wauwatosa (East) Stephanie Harbaugh, La Crosse, Junior, Goalkeeper, Hartland (Arrowhead) Jacie Hein, Whitewater, Junior, Midfielder, Mukwonago Shannon Hermes, Stout, Sophomore, Forward, Prior Lake, Minn. Amy Jensen, River Falls, Sophomore, Midfielder, Plymouth, Minn. (Bloomington Kennedy) Michelle John, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Midfielder, Whitefish Bay Nicole Kunick, Oshkosh, Junior, Forward, Green Bay (Southwest) Emily Meisinger, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Defender, Green Bay (Notre Dame) Ashley Peterson, River Falls, Sophomore, Defender, Lino Lakes, Minn. (Forest Lake) Kelly Peterson, Eau Claire, Junior, Midfielder, Hudson Mandy Rue, La Crosse, Sophomore, Forward, Vadnais Heights, Minn. (White Bear Lake) Tara Schmitt, Stevens Point, Senior, Defender, Brookfield (Catholic Memorial) Carrie Schrank, Stout, Senior, Midfielder, Reedsburg Alyssa Souza, Stevens Point, Senior, Forward, Madison (Memorial) Kelly Stolarczyk, Stout, Junior, Forward, Elk River, Minn. Jayna Stransky, La Crosse, Senior, Defender, McFarland Stacy Stroud, Oshkosh, Junior, Defender, New Berlin (West) Julie Taylor, La Crosse, Senior, Midfielder, Verona Becky Westbrock, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Defender, North St. Paul, Minn.
Player of the Year: Tara Schmitt of Stevens Point Coach of the Year: Sheila Miech of Stevens Point Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Tara Schmitt of Stevens Point
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UW-Stevens Point's Schmitt Named Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete
RELEASED: Thursday, November 11, 2004 Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Tara Schmitt has been named the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.
Schmitt, a senior from Brookfield, Wis. (Catholic Memorial H.S.), is majoring in physical education with a minor in health education and maintains a 3.85 grade point average. She is a two-time member of the CoSIDA Academic All- District Five College Division Women's Soccer Second Team and has appeared on UW-Stevens Point's Dean's List on numerous occasions as well as the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She has earned highest honors distinction from UW-Stevens Point over four separate semesters and has also been the recipient of numerous other academic awards.
Schmitt, a team co-captain, was recently named the WIAC Player of the Year en route her to her fourth career all- WIAC honor. She has played on three regular season and four WIAC tournament championship teams. Schmitt was named her team's Most Valuable Player in 2003 and earned all-region second team honors in 2002.
Schmitt is a member of UW-Stevens Point's as well as the WIAC student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) and has served as president for UWSP's SAAC. She is also a member of the Wisconsin Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and has served as a volunteer ACT tutor.
Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-La Crosse's Jayna Stransky, UW-Oshkosh's Karin Reinke, UW-River Falls' Molly McClanahan, UW-Stout's Carrie Schrank, and UW-Stevens Point's Melissa Becker.
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver's. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.
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UW-Stevens Point To Host NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament First Round Match
RELEASED: Monday, November 8, 2004
Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will open the NCAA Division III women's soccer tournament at home for the third straight year and fourth time in five years when the Pointers host Concordia (Wis.) on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Pointer Soccer Bowl.
UW-Stevens Point is 15-4-1 after clinching the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament title on Saturday with a 1-0 win over UW-Oshkosh. Concordia (14-6-1) captured the Lake Michigan Conference's automatic berth with a 1-0 overtime win over Edgewood Saturday. UW-Stevens Point and Concordia have never met in women's soccer.
The winner of Wednesday's match advances to play at the University of Chicago (Ill.) on Saturday. The Maroons are 14-2-2 and defeated the Pointers 4-1 on September 11.
The Pointers clinched their eighth consecutive berth in the tournament, which is the second-longest streak in Division III behind The College of New Jersey, which received an at-large berth for its 14th straight bid. Wheaton (Ill.) and Mary Washington (Va.) also are making their eighth straight appearance.
UW-Stevens Point has won eight straight matches overall, outscoring opponents 27-3 over the span. The Pointers have won their NCAA tournament opener the past four years, including a 3-0 home victory over Macalester (Minn.) last season.
The Pointers are 9-10 all-time in the NCAA tournament, including a 4-3 record at home.
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Six Named To Academic All-District Women's Soccer Team
RELEASED: Friday, November 5, 2004 Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer student-athletes have been named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Soccer Team. UW-Stout's Carrie Schrank was named to the first team, while UW-Stevens Point's Melissa Becker and Tara Schmitt and UW- Stout's Heidi Schultz were second team selections. UW-La Crosse's Jayna Stransky and UW-Stevens Point's Alyssa Souza were third team choices.
The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Schrank, a senior midfielder from Reedsburg, Wis., maintains a 3.88 grade point average and is majoring in graphic design. She was an academic all-america third team selection last season and led the NCAA Division III in assists. Schrank also earned all-WIAC honors in 2003 and holds the school's all-time record for assists.
Becker, a senior midfielder from Rhinelander, Wis., is majoring in biology and sustains a 3.83 grade point average. She has started all 18 matches this season and ranks third on the squad with 15 points.
Schmitt, a senior defender from Brookfield, Wis. (Catholic Memorial H.S.), earned second team accolades for the second straight year. She maintains a 3.85 grade point average and is majoring in physical education. Schmitt is a three-time all-WIAC selection and captured all-region second team honors in 2002.
Schultz, a junior midfielder from River Falls, Wis., earned academic all-district honors for the second consecutive season. She carries a 3.94 grade point average while majoring in general business administration. Schultz has started all 17 matches for the Blue Devils this season and has registered six goals and five assists.
Stransky, a senior defender from McFarland, Wis., is majoring in Spanish and maintains a 3.95 grade point average. She was an academic all-district second team pick a year ago.
Souza, a senior midfielder from Madison, Wis. (Memorial H.S.), carries a 3.53 grade point average while majoring in sociology. She has started all 18 matches this year and ranks second on the team with 10 goals and 24 points.
Schrank is now eligible for the Academic All-America Team, which will be announced on November 23.
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UW-Stevens Point Wins Women's Soccer Championship
Stevens Point, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point won the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer championship with a 6-0 victory over defending conference champion, UW- River Falls, on October 23 at the Pointer Soccer Bowl. UW-Stevens Point's victory coupled with UW-Stout's tie against UW-Oshkosh on October 24 gave the Pointers the outright title.
The title for the Pointers is their 11th in the 13-year history of the conference and they had won six straight before UW-River Falls' championship last year.
UW-Stevens Point jumped on the Falcons early with two goals in a 42-second span. Similar to its first goal four days earlier against St. Thomas, Megan Frey sent a cross in front that Kim Reese headed in for a 1-0 lead 6:10 into the match. Abbey Kirchdoerfer then sent a cross into the box that Liz Kidd headed in for a 2-0 advantage.
Freshman Kimie Wiepz took over the offense from that point, scoring three straight goals, including a goal with seven minutes left in the first half from Anna Van Stippen that put the Pointers ahead 3-0 at halftime. Wiepz scored two more goals less than two minutes apart early in the second half with assists from Frey that put UW-Stevens Point ahead 5-0. It was the Pointers' first hat trick by any player this season.
Kidd finished the scoring with a goal on an assist by Amanda Chu with 2:08 left in the match.
UW-Stevens Point also earned the top seed for the WIAC Tournament and will host the semifinal and championship matches of the event on November 5-6. Quarterfinal matches of the tournament begin on November 2.
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2004 WIAC Women's Soccer Preview
Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, which has won the conference title in 10 of the last 12 years, is favored to win the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer championship, according to the league's sports information directors.
The Pointers, who have appeared in seven straight NCAA Division III tournaments, received seven of nine first- place votes in the conference poll.
UW-River Falls, which secured last season's regular-season championship to snap UW-Stevens Point's six-year streak, received the remaining two first-place votes in the league survey and is pegged to finish second in the nine- team race.
Following is a brief preview of each WIAC women's soccer team, listed in alphabetical order, with its 2003 overall and conference record in parenthesis.
UW-Eau Claire (8-11-1, 3-5 WIAC)
UW-Eau Claire will have a brand new look in 2004 as 29 newcomers and 10 returning letterwinners look to fill the void of a team that has lost 20 letterwinners the past two seasons.
Junior forward Marcia Foltz returns after a sophomore campaign that saw her lead the team with 28 points and 12 goals, while finishing second with four assists. One of only two sophomores to earn all-WIAC honors a year ago, Foltz was fifth in the conference in goals and sixth in points. Foltz will be a team captain in 2004, along with sophomore defender Emily Meissinger.
Junior midfielder Jill Cope joins Foltz and Meissinger as the only returning Blugolds to start every match in 2003. Cope tallied three goals and three assists last season.
UW-La Crosse (9-6-1, 5-2-1)
UW-La Crosse head coach Sara Burton returns 15 letterwinners and 10 starters from last year's squad. The Eagles' highlights last season included a 2-1 double overtime win over UW-Stevens Point, marking the Pointers' first WIAC regular-season loss in school history (a span of 87 matches). The Eagles also amassed a school record eight-match unbeaten streak (7-0-1) in 2003.
A group of eight seniors will lead the Eagles in 2004, including last year's second-leading scorer in forward Cynthia Fudzinski with 10 points. Fellow seniors Leah LeFebvre and Jenny Gellerman also return at forward after finishing with eight points last season. Gellerman is tied for 11th on the school's all-time list with 26 career points.
Senior midfielders Julie Taylor, Shannon Patterson and Sara Schroedel add plenty of experience for the Eagles. Taylor, who ranks sixth with 16 career goals and 42 points, was an all-WIAC selection as a freshman. Patterson and Schroedel each played in all 16 matches a year ago. Senior Jayna Stransky leads the defense in 2004 after starting all 16 matches last season and playing in 49 matches in her three-year career.
Junior Stephanie Harbaugh will begin the season as goalkeeper after starting all 16 matches last year and registering a 1.29 goals against average with five shutouts. Junior Ashley Marshall returns at midfielder after starting 15 matches in 2003, while juniors Khyl Sircy and Sarah Swoboda are back at defender.
A group of 10 sophomores saw playing time last season, including midfielder Jennifer Watry, who led UW-La Crosse with five assists and 11 points, while tying for second with three goals.
UW-Oshkosh (14-5-2, 5-2-1) With a new head coach and the inheritance of five starters and three reserves from last year's squad, UW-Oshkosh enters the 2004 season looking to continue its development and ascent within the WIAC.
Last fall, UW-Oshkosh recorded 13-plus wins for the third time in four seasons and came within seconds of claiming a share of the WIAC championship. UW-Oshkosh tallied the second-highest victory count in school history a year ago by yielding just 11 goals and shutting out 12 of its 21 opponents. The Titans lost all five of their matches by one goal last season, including a contest with 14 seconds left in double overtime to eventual WIAC champion UW-River Falls. UW-Oshkosh also played scoreless ties a year ago with perennial NCAA Division III powers UW-Stevens Point and Wheaton College (Ill.).
UW-Oshkosh's maturation process and mission will be guided this fall by former all-WIAC standout Erin Leinweber. Leinweber, an Oshkosh native who helped UW-Stevens Point to a pair of WIAC championships as a player in the mid-1990s, comes to UW-Oshkosh from North Park University (Ill.), where she served as the school's head women's soccer coach for three seasons.
A good combination of experience, youth and depth will serve as key components for Leinweber's first UW- Oshkosh team. Expected to lead this year's squad are returning starters Michelle John, Nicole Kunick, Kristen Malmstrom, Karin Reinke and Stacy Stroud and 2003 reserves Christine Barutha, Nikki Goes and Kristi Olejnik. Reinke, a senior midfielder, received all-Central Region third team and all-WIAC honors a year ago after scoring 20 points on eight goals and four assists. The Titans also welcome back Melissa Gruber, who started 36 matches for the Titans in 2001 and 2002.
UW-Platteville (2-16, 1-7)
UW-Platteville continues its building process with nine returning letterwinners and a host of talented newcomers for second-year head coach Chris Bianchi.
Three-time all-WIAC player Jessi Jones returns for her senior season after being involved with all but one of the team's goals last year. She scored four goals and three assists to lead the Pioneers.
Two other starters return in three-year letterwinner Becca Humphrey, one of the team's top defenders, and sophomore defender Emily Brunton, who had a standout first year. Stefanie Lund played in all 18 matches as a reserve, while Stacy Demerath played in 16, scoring one goal, and Nicole Maas saw action in 12.
UW-River Falls (17-4, 6-2)
UW-River Falls will try to duplicate last year's success when the team came away with a school-best 17 victories and their first WIAC championship. Sean McKuras returns for his third season with the Falcons. He has been named the league coach of the year the last two years and owns the best winning percentage of all active WIAC coaches (30-9-2, .756).
Junior forward Sarah Carlson returns for the Falcons after being named the WIAC Co-Player of the Year last season. She finished second in the conference with 16 goals and third in scoring with 38 points, while adding eight game- winning goals.
Two sophomores, who tied for second on the team with 20 points, also return. Defender Ashley Peterson tallied seven goals, six assists and was named to the all-WIAC squad, while midfielder Amy Jensen compiled six goals and a team-leading eight assists. Senior Emily Rodgers also returns and will move to forward after playing midfield a season ago, when she registered five goals and 12 points. Senior Molly McClanahan will be a key player for the Falcons in the midfield.
The main concern for the Falcons will be goaltending where Apryl Jennrich played for the past four years and earned all-WIAC honors the last two seasons. Also gone is freshman sweeper Kelly Sapan, who transferred to the University of Minnesota.
UW-Stevens Point (15-4-3, 5-1-2) It doesn't take a soccer expert to figure out the strengths and questions for UW-Stevens Point this season. The team returns its entire defense from last year's WIAC tournament championship squad, but lost more than half of its scoring from the conference's top offensive team.
Defensively, the Pointers return three-time all-WIAC selection Tara Schmitt along with seniors Mollie Kreibich and Melissa Becker and junior Katie O'Leary. Abbey Kirchdoerfer is also back at sweeper after playing every minute of every match as a freshman. The top returning goalkeeper is junior Kortney Krill, who played in all but one match in 2002.
However, no doubt the biggest questions are on offense. The Pointers only lost three players, but the trio of Jenny Bruce, Kelly Fink and Andrea Oswald combined to score or assist 61 of the team's 76 goals and account for over half of the team's points. Top returners for this year are all-WIAC senior midfielder Megan Frey as well as seniors Kim Reese and Alyssa Souza.
UW-Stout (12-7, 4-4)
UW-Stout is coming off their best season in 2003 with 12 wins. As a team, the Blue Devils led the WIAC in goal margin (3.2-0.6) and ranked second behind only UW-Stevens Point in points (179), goals (61), goals/game (3.21), assists (57) and assists per game (3.0). Defensively, UW-Stout was second in goals allowed (0.63) and goals against average (0.63). The Blue Devils ranked 24th in the NCAA Division III in goals per game and 25th in goals against average, while posting a program-best 61 goals and allowing a program-low 12 goals.
Senior goalkeeper Melissa Ballweg roamed the net for a school-record seven shutouts and shared in 10 shutouts in last year. Her goals against average was a school record 0.69 and ranked second in the conference.
Senior midfielder Carrie Schrank earned all-WIAC honors last year and led all of NCAA Division III in assists per game with 1.12 and 19 total, despite missing two matches.
UW-Stout returns 18 letterwinners, including top six scorers: midfielders Schrank (5 g, 19 a), Krista Hight (6 g, 4 a), and Heidi Schultz (1 g, 9 a) and forwards Shannon Hermes (14 g, 5 a), Kelly Stolarczyk (12 g, 3 a) and Tanya Gegare (5 g, 2 a).
UW-Superior (5-12-2, 0-8)
Since Chris Perez assumed the head coaching duties for UW-Superior four years ago, the Yellowjackets have taken a step forward each season. Steps forward have come in the quality of recruits, the quality of players and the quality of competition.
Replacing the loss of four-year starter Gina King will be challenging, but the Yellowjackets should be up for the task with 15 returnees and eight newcomers. Perez hopes to win 10-12 non-conference matches and take a few conference matches as well.
A quartet of senior starters returns from last season, including midfielders Rachel Sawyer, Erin Pride and Jesse Pride, while Erin Johnson will move from goalkeeper into the field. All four individuals started all 19 matches for the Yellowjackets a year ago.
UW-Whitewater (11-3-2, 4-2-2)
The most revealing numbers from UW-Whitewater's 2003 campaign are team statistics. The 2003 team averaged the second most goals per match in the history of the program (2.94 per game); however, the number of shots taken was not even in the top 10. The 2003 team also allowed just 1.06 goals per game, second best in the school record book - but goalie saves were nowhere to be found in the top 10.
That isn't to say that Staci Gustafson's points (second in career assists, third in points, fourth in goals), or that all- Central Region and all-WIAC midfielder Christin Acklam, or all-WIAC midfielder Dani Daggett won't be missed, just that the accomplishments of the team that did not lose a non-conference match, were a reflection of a team-first philosophy. Thirteen players that played in at least 10 matches return from last year's club. That list includes senior goalkeeper Jamie Carollo, who started all 16 matches (and 34 in her first three years), while compiling a 1.01 goals against average. Ashley Tranchita, Sara Walkington and Allison Starch all kept offenses away from Carollo last year.
Junior midfielder Stephanie Gaal (5 goals, 14 points), junior forward Jacie Hein (6-17) and sophomore forward Lindsey Kohlbeck (6-13) are all proven scorers on the team this season.
2004 Preseason Predictions (Voted on by WIAC Sports Information Directors)
1. Stevens Point (7) 2. River Falls (2) 3. Oshkosh 4. La Crosse 5. Whitewater 6. Stout 7. Eau Claire 8. Platteville 9. Superior
( )--First-Place votes
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Leinweber Named Head Women's Soccer Coach At UW-Oshkosh
RELEASED: Monday, June 21, 2004
Oshkosh, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Director of Athletics Allen Ackerman announced Monday (June 21) that Oshkosh native Erin Leinweber has been hired as the Titans' new head women's soccer coach. The Oshkosh West High School graduate becomes the fifth mentor in the program's 12-year history, taking over for interim head coach Erin O'Driscoll.
Leinweber, 28, has spent the last three seasons as head women's soccer coach and director of intramurals at North Park University in Chicago, Ill. She also was the head women's soccer coach at Ripon College in 1999.
"I'm extremely excited about this opportunity to return to my hometown and coach women's soccer at UW- Oshkosh," said Leinweber. "There has been a lot of success in the UW-Oshkosh athletics program and I look forward to being a part of that great environment."
Leinweber earned four varsity letters in girls' soccer at Oshkosh West High School from 1990 to 1993. In 1991, she helped the Wildcats to its first and only appearance in the WIAA Division I State Tournament. Leinweber scored a school-record 62 goals during her prep career, including 17 in 1993 when she received all-state honors and played in the state's all-star game.
Leinweber followed a stellar high school career by accepting a scholarship to play college soccer at NCAA Division I UW-Green Bay. She appeared in 16 matches for UW-Green Bay in 1993, scoring two goals and helping the Phoenix to a 13-4-2 record.
Leinweber left UW-Green Bay after one season and transferred to UW-Stevens Point, where she played for the Pointers from 1994 to 1996. At UW-Stevens Point, Leinweber helped the Pointers to a 45-16-3 record (21-0-2 WIAC), two NCAA Division III post-season appearances and two WIAC championships. She concluded her UW- Stevens Point career by totaling 78 points on 28 goals and 22 assists.
Leinweber had nine goals and six assists in 1994 when UW-Stevens Point posted a 17-3-2 record, won the WIAC title and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III Championship. In 1995, She received All- WIAC second team honors after compiling nine goals and 10 assists and helping the Pointers to a 17-3 record. UW- Stevens Point's 1995 season also featured another WIAC title and a bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. In 1996, Leinweber received All-WIAC first team honors after totaling 10 goals and six assists and helping the Pointers to an 11-10-1 record.
North Park University compiled a 22-31-3 record during Leinweber's three seasons as head women's soccer coach. Last fall, the Vikings played the most competitive schedule in the program's history and posted a 7-10-2 record. In 2002, North Park University started six freshmen and tallied a 10-9 record, with the 10 victories tying a school single-season record. In 2001, Leinweber took a North Park University squad that went 4-12 the previous year to a 5-12-1 record.
Leinweber also was the head women's soccer coach at Ripon College. In 1999, her only season at the school, Leinweber guided the Red Hawks to a 2-14 record. She took over a program that counted a 3-12-1 record and involved only 13 players in 1998.
In 2000, Leinweber coached at UW-Whitewater, serving as an assistant to head women's coach and former UW- Oshkosh men's soccer All-American Greg Henschel. The Warhawks posted a 13-5-2 record that season and finished second in the WIAC.
"I consider myself a proud product of the WIAC," said Leinweber. "I enjoyed playing in the league for UW-Stevens Point and now the thrill continues for me as UW-Oshkosh's new head coach. What I hope to do is to bring some of the same successful experiences that I had as a player to those who play for me."
Leinweber's resume also includes the mention of head freshman girls' coach at Oshkosh West High School in 1999 and 2000, assistant boys' varsity coach at Appleton East High School in 1998, assistant boys' varsity coach at Stevens Point High School in 1997 and assistant girls' varsity coach at Stevens Point High School in 1995, 1996 and 1997.
Since 1995, Leinweber has enhanced her coaching credentials by working soccer camps at Marquette University North Park University, Northwestern University (Ill.), University of Florida, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point.
Leinweber, who holds a United States Soccer Federation "C" license, received her bachelor's degree from UW- Stevens Point in 1998 and master's degree from North Park University in 2003. In addition to coaching women's soccer at UW-Oshkosh, Leinweber will also be the manager of the Oshkosh Sports Complex.
"Erin brings a great deal of enthusiasm, knowledge and passion to our women's soccer program," said Ackerman. "In addition, her experience as a player and coach in the WIAC will be invaluable. I look forward to working with Erin as a member of our coaching staff."
UW-Oshkosh concluded the 2003 season with a 14-5-2 record, with the 14 victories representing the second-highest win total in school history. UW-Oshkosh had a season-best five-match winning end with its loss to UW-River Falls in the semifinal round of the WIAC Tournament.
UW-Oshkosh scored 54 goals during the 2003 season, including 11 by Nicole Kunick, eight by Karin Reinke and five by both Michelle John and Stacy Stroud. All four players are expected to return for Leinweber this fall. UW- Oshkosh allowed just 11 goals in 2003, shutting out 12 of its 21 opponents.
UW-Oshkosh also recorded season marks of 10-10-1 in 2002, 13-3-1 in 2001 and 15-4 in 2000.
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