RELEASED: Monday, August 28, 2006

UW-Eau Claire Tabbed Women's Soccer Preseason Favorite

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the defending conference champion, is projected to win the 2006 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer championship, according to the league's sports information directors.

The Blugolds, who received six first-place votes in the conference's preseason poll, won the first women's soccer title in school history last season, made the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament (advancing to the second round) and posted the fourth-highest victory total in school chronicles with 15 wins.

UW-Eau Claire is ranked No. 19 nationally in a preseason poll conducted by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, while placing No. 24 in the inaugural D3kicks.com poll. Seven of the Blugolds' 16 returning letterwinners were freshmen last year, including goalkeeper Allie Rivard, who led the conference with a 0.56 goals against average - a mark that ranks sixth on the WIAC single season list.

UW-Oshkosh collected two first-place votes in the conference poll and is pegged to finish second in the nine-team league derby. The Titans received votes in the D3kicks.com preseason rankings and have recorded two second and three third-place finishes in the league race in the past five years. UW-Oshkosh ended the 2005 season by winning 11 of its last 14 matches and returns 34 of its 49 goals scored a year ago. The Titans have registered a 42-15-6 record (16-4-4 WIAC) the past three seasons and have allowed just 53 goals in those contests.

UW-Stevens Point received the remaining first-place vote and is expected to place third in the conference ledger. The Pointers have secured 12 conference titles (1992-95, 97-04) in school history and compiled 18 straight winning seasons, marking the fifth longest current streak in NCAA Division III. UW-Stevens Point is 129-6-6 all-time against WIAC opponents (including regular season and tournament) and had its string of eight straight NCAA tournament appearances and conference tournament titles snapped last season. Head coach Sheila Miech ranks sixth among active NCAA Division III coaches with 273 career wins.

UW-River Falls allowed a team all-time low 13 goals in 2005 and returns players who scored 29 of the team's 39 goals (75 percent) last season. The Falcons have registered a 44-4-1 home record during head coach Sean McKuras' four seasons. McKuras is the winningest coach in program history with 54 wins.

UW-Stout welcomes Meagan Frank as its' head coach for the 2006 campaign. She played at NCAA Division I Colorado College from 1993-96 and served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Tigers in 1999. Frank inherits a program that has posted 10 or more victories each of the last three years. UW-Stout was the top defensive team in the league a year ago, allowing 0.57 goals per contest.

UW-La Crosse returns individuals that accounted for 26 of the team's 31 goals from last season, including Sarah Harrington who led the squad with 11 goals and 22 points. The Eagles play their first six matches of the season at home. Head coach Sara Burton is tied with UW-Eau Claire's Sean Yengo for second place on the conference's all-time win chart with 111 victories.

UW-Whitewater's Lindsey Kohlbeck tied for the league scoring title last year with 29 points, which ranks sixth on the school's single season chart. Head coach Greg Henschel is school's all-time winningest coach with 62 victories and has guided the men's program to five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

UW-Platteville compiled the most wins in school history during the 2005 campaign and registered the first winning season in the program's 14-year history. The Pioneers allowed 16 goals last season (0.84 per game), cutting the school record by 16 goals. UW-Platteville has set 29 school records in the past two seasons.

UW-Superior established a school record in victories a year ago and has gone unbeaten (16-0-5) in non-conference matches the last two seasons. The Yellowjackets return Whitney Sengthao, who tied for the WIAC scoring title in 2005 with 29 points and Hiromi Ikeuchi who tied for the league led with 10 assists.

2006 Preseason Predictions (Voted on by WIAC Sports Information Directors)

Rank, School, 2005 Record
1. (6) UW-Eau Claire (6-0-2, 15-3-5)
2. (2) UW-Oshkosh (6-1-1, 13-6-1)
3. (1) UW-Stevens Point (4-2-2, 8-7-2)
4. UW-River Falls (3-3-2, 12-4-3)
5. UW-Stout (4-1-3, 10-3-5)
6. UW-La Crosse (3-3-2, 9-7-2)
7. UW-Whitewater (2-6-0, 8-9-0)
8. UW-Platteville (2-6-0, 9-7-3)
9. UW-Superior (0-8-0, 10-8-1)

( )-First-place votes

Team Vitals
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Sean Yengo; 10th season;
111-58-15 record at UWEC / 111-58-15 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 16/8
Starters Returning/Lost: 10/1
Returning All-WIAC: Liz Kooistra, So., F (2005-First); Emily Meisinger, Sr., M (2005-First, 2004-First); Allison Smith, So., D (2005-First); Becky Westbrock, Sr., D (2005-First, 2004-First)

UW-La Crosse
Head Coach: Sara Burton; 13th season;
111-86-14 record at UWL / 111-86-14 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/8
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/7
Returning All-WIAC: Mandy Rue, Sr., F
(2004-First); Amy Todd, So., M (2005-First)

UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach: Erin Leinweber; 7th season;
28-10-4 record at UWO / 52-55-7 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/10
Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5
Returning All-WIAC: Michelle John, Sr., M (2005-First, 2004-First); Amanda Matzke, So., M (2005-First)

UW-Platteville
Head Coach: Chris Bianchi; 4th season;
19-35-3 record at UWP / 19-35-3 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 13/5
Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4
Returning All-WIAC: Lindsay Kowaleski, Jr., D
(2005-First); Laurie Trifone, Jr., GK (2005-First)

UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Sean McKuras; 5th season;
54-18-6 record at UWRF / 54-18-6 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/7
Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4
Returning All-WIAC: Amy Jensen, Sr., M (2005-First, 2004-First); Ashley Peterson, Sr., D (2005-First, 2004-First, 2003-First)

UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Sheila Miech; 20th season;
273-90-24 record at UWSP / 273-90-24 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/6
Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4
Returning All-WIAC: Amanda Prawatt, So., F (2005-First); Kimie Wiepz, Jr., M (2005-First)

UW-Stout
Head Coach: Meagan Frank; 1st season;
0-0-0 record at UWS / 0-0-0 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 28/9
Starters Returning/Lost: 8/3
Returning All-WIAC: Michelle Lizotte, Jr., F (2005-First)

UW-Superior
Head Coach: Chris Perez; 8th season;
23-61-7 record at UWS / 39-83-11 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/3
Starters Returning/Lost: 10/1
Returning All-WIAC: None

UW-Whitewater
Head Coach: Greg Henschel; 7th season;
62-42-7 record at UWW / 62-42-7 overall
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 25/8
Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5
Returning All-WIAC: Lindsey Kohlbeck, Sr., F (2005-First)

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