UW-L Picked to Finish Fourth in WIAC

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009

Madison, Wis. - For the fourth consecutive season, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has been selected to win the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s soccer championship in a preseason poll conducted by the league’s sports information directors.

The Blugolds, who are ranked No. 15 nationally in the NCAA Division III National Soccer Coaches Association of America Preseason Poll, claimed four first-place votes in the conference projections. UW-Eau Claire has secured three first-place trophies in program history and accumulated a 28-1-3 record against WIAC adversaries the past four years. The Blugolds have appeared in the NCAA Division III Tournament four consecutive seasons.

UW-La Crosse is picked to finish fourth in this year's preseason standings. The Eagles will play their nine home matches - including four straight to start the season - at the newly constructed Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex after being forced to play their entire 2008 home slate at Fields for Kids in La Crosse.

UW-L has advanced to the semifinals of the league tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1996 and 1997. The Eagles have posted six straight winning seasons, the longest streak in program history.

The Eagles return nine letter winners and four starters from last year's squad which finished 9-8-2 overall and 4-3-1 in the WIAC. Head coach Sara Burton begins her 16th season at UW-L with a career record of 140-105-20.

UW-Stevens Point, the defending WIAC champion, captured four first-place votes in the survey and is expected to place second in the nine-team league derby in 2009. The Pointers are ranked No. 14 nationally and own a WIAC-best 12 conference titles. UW-Whitewater picked up the remaining first-place vote and is slotted for third in the league ledger. The Warhawks have recorded back-to-back third-place finishes and reached the semifinals of the WIAC tournament both years.

UW-Stout is picked to finish fifth this year followed by UW-Oshkosh, UW-River Falls, UW-Platteville and UW-Superior.

UW-L opens its 2009 season hosting Beloit College (Wis.) Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.