WIAC Men's and Women's Soccer Preview | WTAQ News Talk

MADISON, Wis.–The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the two-time defending champion, has been selected to claim 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.

The Eagles won the program’s sixth regular-season crown last season and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III Championship for the second time in three years. UW-La Crosse has recorded at least 20 wins the past two seasons, becoming just the second program in the WIAC to accomplish that feat (UW-Whitewater in 2015 and 2016). The Eagles return nine starters from a year ago, including Alexis McMahon (2022 and 2023 WIAC Defensive Player of the Year), Ellie Arndt (2023 Offensive Player of the Year) and Sophia Anger (2023 WIAC Goalkeeper of the Year).

UW-Eau Claire is ranked No. 2 in the league. The Blugolds have three regular-season titles, most recently in 2007. This year’s roster features eight returning starters, including Kennedy Boll, Paige Crawford and Elise Pinewski – all of whom earned All-WIAC first-team honors in 2023. UW-Eau Claire has reached double figures in overall wins in four straight seasons and three years with at least four WIAC wins in that span.

UW-Platteville is tipped to finish third in the conference standings. The Pioneers have collected at least 10 overall wins during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the first time in program history that has been accomplished. Additionally, the seven WIAC wins over the past two years are the most in consecutive seasons. UW-Platteville returns 10 starters, including All-WIAC first-team selections Arianna Lombardi and Lydia Smith.

WIAC teams begin their non-conference schedules on August 30, while conference play begins on October 2. The top six teams in the league standings qualify for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's). The event will be held on November 5, November 7 and November 9, with all games hosted by the top-seeded team. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic NCAA bid.

2024 Preseason Predictions – Voted by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors Record 2023

UW-La Crosse (20-1-2 overall, 7-0 WIAC/21 pts.)
UW-Eau Claire (10-5-4, 4-2-1/13 pts.)
UW-Platteville (10-3-5, 4-1-2/14 pt.)
4. UW-Oshkosh (5-10-4, 3-3-1/10 points)
UW-Stevens Point (8-11-1, 3-4/9 points)
UW-Whitewater (5-9-5, 1-4-2/5 points)
UW-River Falls (6-8-4, 1-4-2/5 points)
UW-Stout (5-11-2, 1-6/3 points)

Team Capsules

UW-Eau Claire

Head Coach: Sean Yengo; 27th season at UWEC; 303-177-51

Letter Winners Returning/Lost: 6/28

Starters Returning/Lost: 8/3

Returning All-WIAC: Kennedy Boll, Sr., GK (2023-First); Paige Crawford, Jr., D (2023-First); Kori Millis, Sr., M (2023-Honorable); Elise Pinewski, Sr., M/F (2022-First, 2023-First)

Notable returning players: Ava Glenn, Jr., M; Sophie Hubbard, Sr., M; Ava Johnson, Jr., F; Savannah Swopes, Jr., M/D

UW-La Crosse

Head Coach: Jason Murphy; 14th season (10th in UWL); 179-72-26 (overall) / 138-39-23 (UWL)

Letter winners Returning/Lost: 22/10

Starters Returning/Lost: 9/2

Returning All-WIAC: Sophia Anger, Sr., GK (2023-First/Goalkeeper of the Year); Ellie Arndt, Sr., M (2022-First, 2023-First/Offensive Player of the Year); Ellie Behnke, Sr., M (2022-First); Alexis McMahon, Sr., D (2021-First, 2022-First/Defensive Player of the Year, 2023-First/Defensive Player of the Year); Addie Pauling, Sr., D (2022-First, 2023-First)

Notable Returning Players: Chelsea Gale, Sr., M; Sophie Pope, Sr., D; Sera Speltz, Jr., M; Lindsey Szymanski, Jr., F

UW-Oshkosh

Head Coach: Erin Coppernoll; 24th season (20th at UWO); 217-188-46 (overall) / 193-143-43 (UWO)

WIAC Men's and Women's Soccer Preview | WTAQ News Talk | 97.5 FM 1360 AM (2024)