MADISON — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women’s soccer team has been selected to finish second in the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s soccer regular-season title, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
UW-Eau Claire is slotted for second in the conference race. The Blugolds have three regular-season titles with the most recent in 2007. This year’s roster features eight returning starters, including senior Kennedy Boll, junior Paige Crawford and senior Elise Pinewski — all earned All-WIAC first team honors in 2023. UW-Eau Claire has reached double-digits in overall wins four consecutive seasons and three years with at least four WIAC victories in that stretch.
2024 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors2023 Record
1. UW-La Crosse (20-1-2 overall, 7-0 WIAC)
2. UW-Eau Claire (10-5-4, 4-2-1)
3. UW-Platteville (10-3-5, 4-1-2)
4. UW-Oshkosh (5-10-4, 3-3-1)
5. UW-Stevens Point (8-11-1, 3-4)
6. UW-Whitewater (5-9-5, 1-4-2)
7. UW-River Falls (6-8-4, 1-4-2)
8. UW-Stout (5-11-2, 1-6)
The Blugolds will begin their regular season on the road Friday against the College of Saint Benedict. UWEC’s home opener is scheduled for Sunday with St. Olaf College coming to town.
All WIAC teams will begin their non-conference schedules on Aug. 30, while the conference slate will commence on Oct. 2. The top-six teams in the league standings will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s). The event will be held Nov. 5, Nov. 7 and Nov. 9, with all matches hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic NCAA bid.
WIAC welcomes back men’s soccer as a championship sportMADISON — The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) welcomes back men’s soccer as a championship sport this fall for the first time since 2014.
Men’s soccer was a WIAC sport from 2009-14.
Teams competing will include UW-Eau Claire, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout and UW-Whitewater.
UW-Eau Claire previously competed as an independent, while UW-Platteville (2022-23) and UW-Whitewater (2019-23) were members of the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference. UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout will make their men’s soccer debuts in 2024.
A trio of coaches will make their WIAC coaching debuts, including UW-River Falls’ Evan Sassano, UW-Stevens Point’s Jordan Kayser and UW-Stout’s Marcos Rodriguez.
WIAC teams will begin their non-conference schedules on Friday, while the conference slate will commence on Oct. 4. The top-six teams in the league standings will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s). The event will be held Nov. 6, Nov. 8 and Nov. 10, with all matches hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic NCAA bid.
The Blugolds will host Edgewood College in their season opener, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Simpson Field. They will then host Macalester College Sunday at 5 p.m., also at Simpson Field.
Blugolds Team CapsuleUW-Eau ClaireHead Coach: Casey Holm, 3rd season at UWEC; 47-11-3
Letter winners Returning/Lost: 28/8
Starters Returning/Lost: 9/2
Notable Returning Players: Nathan Donovan, Senior, F; Sam Lynch, Senior, D; Noah Malcook, Sophomore., F; Carter Theisfeld, Senior, M.
Blugolds.com contributed to the women’s portion of this story, while the men’s preview was from a submitted report from the WIAC.
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