UWL Projected to Capture Third Straight WIAC Title; Return Nine Starters - University of Wisconsin La Crosse Athletics (2024)

UWL returns nine starters from last year's national quarterfinalist team.

WIAC Soccer Season Preview

Madison, Wis. -

UWL finished 20-1-2 overall and 7-0 in the WIAC in 2023 under head coach Jason Murphy, making its sixth appearance in the last eight NCAA Division III Championships. The Eagles won the WIAC regular season and tournament titles a year ago while advancing to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals. UWL won its sixth (1996, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023) regular season league championshipand fifth (1996, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023) conference tournament title.

The team made its sixth appearance (2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2023) in school history in the national championships, all coming under Murphy. The Eagles earned home wins over UW-Superior and Simpson College (Iowa) in the first two rounds of the 2023 NCAA Division III Championships and advanced to the quarterfinals with a victory over Loras College (Iowa) in the third round.UWL is 11-4-4 all-time in the NCAA III Championships. The Eagles also advanced to the national quarterfinals in 2017 and 2021.

UWL's 20 victories a year ago are tied for second in single-season school history. The Eagles tied the school record for assists (63) while their 64 goals ranks fourth in school history.UWL finished seventh in the final 2023 United Soccer Coaches Top-25 Poll.

UW-Eau Claire is projected second this season followed by UW-Platteville, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Whitewater, UW-River Falls and UW-Stout.

Returning 22 letterwinners and nine starters, UWL has five players who have earned All-WIAC accolades. Senior Sophia Anger of Milwaukee (Rufus King) was named the 2023 WIAC Goalkeeper of the Year while earning all-conference first team honors. Shewent 19-1-2 last season while setting a single-season school record with 13 shutouts. Anger also had three shared shutouts.She allowed eight goals, the fewest in the WIAC. She also ledthe league in shutouts (13.0) and goals against average (.40). She was voted to the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Region IX Second Team.

Senior midfielders Ellie Arndt of Appleton (St. Francis Xavier) and Ellie Behnke of Appleton (East) have both earned all-conference first accolades. Arndt was named to the 2023 and 2023 All-WIAC First Team while earning WIAC Offensive Player of the Year honors last season. Behnke was selected to the 2022 All-WIAC First Team.Named to the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Division III All-America First Team,Arndt started 21games last season while recordingfourgoals andfive assists for 13 points. Her five assists were tied for fourth for the Eagles.Arndt was tied for second in the WIAC in shots on goal per game (1.48) and third in shots per game (2.86). She also earned United Soccer CoachesRegion IX First Team honors.Behnkeplayed in all 23 games with 10 starts, finishing with three goals, two assists and eight points a year ago. She scored the game-winning goal versus UW-Superior in the NCAA Division III Championships.

Senior defenders Alexis McMahon of San Jose, Calif. (Valley Christian) and Addie Pauling of Appleton (West) were named to the 2022 and 2023 all-conference first team while McMahon also earned all-league first team honors in 2021. McMahon has been voted the WIAC Defensive Player of the Year the last two seasons. She was named to the 2023 United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team and All-Region First Team. McMahon started 19 games, recording four assists. Pauling started all 23 games last year, finishing with six shots. McMahon and Paulinghelped lead UWL's defense record 16 shutouts last year while allowing 11 goals in 23 games (0.47goals against average).

Murphy is 138-39-23 (.748) overall and 50-8-6(.828) in WIAC playat UW-La Crossewith 48 all-conference selections earned in his first 10seasons. He is 179-72-26 (.693) overall as a collegiate head coach in 14 seasons after serving four years at the helm at Marian University (Wis.). Murphywas named the 2015 WIAC Coach of the Year and UWLearned the 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award. He has led UWL to five (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023) WIAC regular season titles and four(2017, 2018, 2022, 2023) conference tournament championships.

Murphy is joined by assistant coaches Lauren Johnson, Joe Czerniak and Kenny Lloydin 2024.

UWL opens its 2024 season at UW-Superior on Friday, August 30. The Eagles' home opener is set for Saturday, September 14 hosting the University of Dubuque (Iowa). UWL starts WIAC play hosting UW-Oshkosh on Saturday, October 5. For the complete schedule, click here.