2002 WIAC Women's Soccer Headlines

2002 WIAC Women's Soccer Headlines

UW-Stevens Point's Fink Named Third Team
Soccer Scholar All-American

RELEASED: Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Stevens Point, Wis.--Already a third-team All-American performer on the field, UW-Stevens Point women's soccer player Kelly Fink has been honored for her work off the field as a third team Scholar All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Making Fink's award even more impressive is the fact that she is one of just three NCAA Division III student-athletes honored on the team, which includes all divisions of NCAA soccer. Other Division III athletes were seniors Erica Adelstein of Trinity (Texas) and Annie Schenck of Emory (Ga.), who were both second-team selections. In fact, only two Division II athletes were selected with the other 28 honorees all coming from Division I schools. Fink is also one of just nine juniors among the 33 selections.

Fink, a West Bend West High School graduate who carries a 3.58 grade point average in Elementary Education, had the second-highest single-season goals total in Pointer history this season with 24, while also sharing the WIAC lead with 11 assists. She is already fourth on the school's all-time goal scoring list with 46 in her two-year career with the Pointers. Fink helped the Pointers to their sixth straight WIAC title and an 18-1-2 overall.

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UW-Stevens Point's Fink Named Women's Soccer Third Team All-America

RELEASED: Tuesday, December 10, 2002

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point junior forward Kelly Fink has been named to the 2002 adidas/National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America Third Team.

Fink, a native of West Bend, Wis. (West H.S.), ranks fourth on the school's all-time goal scoring list and had the second-highest single season goals total in Pointer history this year with 24, while also sharing the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) lead with 11 assists.

Fink becomes the eighth All-American player in UW-Stevens Point history and fourth in the past three seasons.

UW-Stevens Point finished 18-1-2 overall and advanced to the regional championship match for the third straight year before losing to St. Thomas (Minn.) to snap its school-record 20-match unbeaten streak. The Pointers won their six straight WIAC title and 10th in 11 years this season.

Fink played her freshman season at Concordia (Wis.) where she amassed 31 goals and 17 assists. She transferred to UW-Stevens Point and had 22 goals and five assists for 49 points as a sophomore before her 59-point season this year. In two years with the Pointers, Fink has 46 goals and 16 assists for 108 points, which ranks sixth on the school's all-time point-scoring list.

Fink tied a single-match school record earlier this season by scoring all four of the team's goals in a win over Carleton (Minn.). She also had three goals in a 4-1 WIAC semifinal win over UW-River Falls and scored the lone goal in a key victory over final four participant Trinity (Texas), snapping the Tigers' 31-match home winning streak.

The NSCAA also recently announced the 2002 All-Central Region Team. UW-Eau Claire's Maleia Damato and UW-Stevens Point's Jenny Bruce and Kelly Fink were named to the first team. UW-Eau Claire's Emily Peterson and Jullia Powell, UW-Oshkosh's Lindsay Rau and UW-Stevens Point's Molly Cady and Macy Mory earned second team honors, while UW-Eau Claire's Becky Smith received third team recognition.

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UW-Stevens Point's Bruce Named Women's Soccer
Academic All-America

RELEASED: Tuesday, November 26, 2002

Stevens Point, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Jenny Bruce has been named to the Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America Women's Soccer Third Team.

Bruce, junior forward from Menasha, Wis., became the first student-athlete is UW-Stevens Point history to be named to the all-america squad two consecutive seasons, after earning second team accolades last season.

Bruce carries a 3.93 grade point average in sociology and helped lead the Pointers to their best record in school history this year with an 18-1-2 overall record and a second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III regional finals. All 11 of her goals this season came in WIAC matches as she led the Pointers to their sixth straight conference title. She scored three goals in the first 13 minutes of a win over UW-Whitewater, earning mention in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd."

Bruce added six assists this season to finish with 28 points and earn her third straight All-WIAC honor. She ranks fourth in school history with 37 career assists and fifth in school history with 113 career points. She was an All-Region First Team selection last season and led the WIAC and ranked 11th in NCAA Division III with 16 assists.

The academic all-america team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes from around the country. No other Wisconsin athletes were named to the squad.

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UW-Stevens Point's Cady Leads All-WIAC Women's Soccer Team

RELEASED: Thursday, November 21, 2002

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Molly Cady was named the 2002 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year, headlining the 22-member All-WIAC team, which was recently selected by the conference coaches.

Cady, a senior midfielder, led the Pointers to their sixth straight WIAC championship this season and sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. She tallied 37 points on 13 goals and 11 assists this season, giving her 43 goals and 43 assists for 129 points during her career. Cady became the 25th player in Division III history to score 40 goals and 40 assists in a career.

Cady, a three-time All-WIAC performer, ranks third in school history in career assists, third in career points and fifth in career goals. She never missed a match in four years, playing in all 89 matches and compiling a 75-12-2 career record.

Cady holds the NCAA all-divisions tournament record with five assists in a first round victory over Edgewood as a sophomore.

Cady becomes the third consecutive Pointer to win the league's player of the year honor. Mickey Jacob won the award last season and Marie Muhvic claimed the honor in 2000.

Joining Cady on the All-WIAC team were Jenny Bruce, Kelly Fink, Macy Mory and Tara Schmitt.

Bruce, a three-time All-WIAC honoree, compiled 28 points this season on 11 goals and six assists.

Fink compiled 24 goals and 11 assists for 59 points this year. The 59 points ranked second in the league and were second on the school single season list, while the 24 goals were also second on the school list. Fink garnered All-WIAC honors last season.

Mory and Schmitt earned their second career All-WIAC accolades after commanding a Pointer defense that led the WIAC with 11 shutouts and a 0.75 goals against average. Mory had one goal on the season, while Schmitt added one goal and one assist.

UW-Eau Claire had five individuals receive All-WIAC accolades after recording a school record 17 wins and 17-4-1 overall mark during the 2002 campaign. Jullia Powell, Emily Peterson, Kiley Zellner, Becky Smith and Maleia Damato all were named to the league team.

Powell totaled 46 points on 19 goals and eight assists this year to earn her second career All-WIAC honor. Her 46 points ranked her third in the WIAC and are second on the school's single season list.

Peterson had seven goals and four assists for 18 points, while Zellner contributed 11 goals and two assists to a Blugold attack that led the WIAC with 82 goals (3.73 per game) this season.

Smith and Damato spearheaded a Blugold defense that posted nine shutouts. Smith played in all 22 matches for the Blugolds and contributed four assists, while Damato added three goals and two assists for eight points.

UW-River Falls' Amy Gilfillan, Apryl Jennrich and Libbi King earned All-WIAC honors after leading the team to a 13-5-2 record. Gilfillan received All-WIAC honors for the second straight season after tallying 76 points on 36 goals and four assists. The goals scored and point total established new league records, surpassing the previous marks of 73 and 30, respectively. Gilfillan holds the Falcon career record with 138 points and ranks second on the all-time list with 64 goals.

Jennrich stopped 179 shots this season, while posting an 1.42 goals against average, and King participated in all 20 matches for the Falcons and scored eight points on two goals and four assists.

UW-Oshkosh's Carrie Gilbert and Lindsay Rau helped the club post a 10-10-1 mark during the 2002 season. Gilbert totaled six goals and one assist for 13 points this year to earn All-WIAC honors for the third consecutive season.

Rau participated in 19 matches and helped the Titans post an 1.24 goals against average and tie a school record with nine shutouts. She was an All-WIAC pick a year ago.

UW-Platteville had a pair of athletes named to the All-WIAC team. Jessi Jones earned All-WIAC honors for the second straight season and led the Pioneers with 13 points and five goals, while adding three assists. Amy Shuman recorded 173 saves this year, including a WIAC Tournament record 25 stops in the team's quarterfinal match against UW-Stevens Point.

UW-Stout's Nellie Sivertsen and Raina Schneider led the Blue Devils to a 7-5-5 record during the 2002 campaign. The five ties established a WIAC record for ties in a season. Sivertsen amassed 12 goals and four assists for 28 points this year. She is school's all-time leading scorer with 44 goals and 16 assists for 104 points. Sivertsen earned All-WIAC honors in 2001 and 1999.

Schneider played in all 17 matches and helped UW-Stout to a best-ever 20 goals allowed and a school record eight shutouts.

UW-Whitewater's Dani Daggett and Staci Gustafson helped the Warhawks to a 10-8-2 record this year, marking the team's fourth consecutive season of 10 or more victories. Daggett led the squad and ranked fifth in the league with 36 points on 16 goals and four assists. Her 16 goals were the second highest total in school history.

Gustafson participated in 19 matches for the Warhawks and totaled 16 points on six goals and four assists.

UW-La Crosse's Amanda Pickett earned All-WIAC honors for the second straight season. She started all 18 matches for the Eagles this year and helped the squad record five shutouts.

UW-River Falls head coach Sean McKuras was named the Coach of the Year by the league coaches. McKuras, in his first season at the helm of the Falcons, guided the squad to a school record 13 wins and 13-5-2 overall record during the 2002 campaign.

2002 All-WIAC Women's Soccer Team

Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Jenny Bruce, Stevens Point, Junior, Forward, Menasha
Molly Cady, Stevens Point, Senior, Midfielder, Cottage Grove (Monona Grove)
Dani Daggett, Whitewater, Senior, Forward, Cottage Grove (Monona Grove)
Maleia Damato, Eau Claire, Junior, Defender, Cedarburg
Kelly Fink, Stevens Point, Junior, Forward, West Bend (West)
Carrie Gilbert, Oshkosh, Senior, Midfielder, Appleton (West)
Amy Gilfillan, River Falls, Junior, Forward, Cottage Grove, Minn. (New Life Academy)
Staci Gustafson, Whitewater, Junior, Midfielder, Mukwonago
Apryl Jennrich, River Falls, Junior, Goalkeeper, Lino Lakes, Minn. (Centennial)
Jessi Jones, Platteville, Sophomore, Midfielder, Brookfield (East)
Libbi King, River Falls, Freshman, Defender, Green Bay (East)
Macy Mory, Stevens Point, Senior, Defender, Madison (Monona Grove)
Emily Peterson, Eau Claire, Senior, Midfielder, Oak Grove, Minn. (St. Francis)
Amanda Pickett, La Crosse, Junior, Defender, Menasha
Jullia Powell, Eau Claire, Senior, Forward, Hartford (Union)
Lindsay Rau, Oshkosh, Junior, Defender, Janesville (Craig)
Tara Schmitt, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Defender, Brookfield (Catholic Memorial)
Raina Schneider, Stout, Senior, Defender, Sheboygan (South)
Amy Shuman, Platteville, Senior, Goalkeeper, Camp Douglas (Tomah)
Nellie Sivertsen, Stout, Senior, Forward, River Falls
Becky Smith, Eau Claire, Junior, Defender, Kenosha (Tremper)
Kiley Zellner, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Midfielder, Green Bay (Preble)

Player of the Year: Molly Cady of Stevens Point
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Macy Mory of Stevens Point
Coach of the Year: Sean McKuras of River Falls

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UW-Stevens Point's Mory Named Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Thursday, November 21, 2002

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Macy Mory has been named the 2002 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Mory, a senior from Madison (Monona Grove H.S.), is majoring in health promotion wellness with a minor in health education and carries a 3.62 grade point average. She was recently named to the 2002 Academic All-District Five Women's Soccer Team. Mory is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been a member of UW-Stevens Point's Honor Roll every semester, as well as a Dean's List member in five semesters. She also received the Health Promotion Academic Scholarship earlier this year from her institution.

Mory, a team captain this season, earned All-WIAC accolades during the 2001 campaign. She has spearheaded a Pointer defense that has posted 11 shutouts in 19 contests this year and leads the league with a 0.57 goals against average. Additionally, the Pointers have posted 52 shutouts in Mory's four-year career and have allowed just 50 goals in 86 matches played. Mory has been a member of four conference championship teams and was a member of the 2000 squad that participated in the national semifinals.

Mory is president of the WIAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a member of the Student Government Association at UW-Stevens Point. She has also served as a volunteer for the Coalition for the Aging and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Mory becomes the sixth women's soccer player from UW-Stevens Point to win the conference's scholar-athlete award, joining Marie Muhvic (2000), Janie Probst (1995), Suzanne Radmer (1994), Julie Brandt (1993) and Krista Soto (1992).

Also nominated for the scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Emily Peterson and Jullia Powell, UW-La Crosse's Jessica Gammey, UW-River Falls' Caroline Benson, Amy Gilfillan and Sarah Renae Hoffman and UW-Stout's Raina Schneider.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver's. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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UW-Stevens Point To Host NCAA Women's Soccer Regional Tournament

RELEASED: Monday, November 11, 2002

Stevens Point, Wis.-- For only the second time ever and for the first time since 1994, UW-Stevens Point will host a women's soccer regional tournament in the upcoming NCAA Division III tournament.

The Pointers have a first round bye and will play Saturday, November 16 against the winner of a Wednesday matchup between Aurora (Ill.) and Loras (Iowa). Aurora has a 19-2 overall record, while Loras is 17-4. The two teams played on Sept. 7 with Aurora claiming a 1-0 victory.

The other half of the bracket has St. Benedict (Minn.) getting a first round bye and facing the winner of a Wednesday match between Carroll (Wis.) and St. Thomas (Minn.).

Two matches will be played Saturday at the Pointer Soccer Bowl and the regional championship will be Sunday, November 17. Game times will be determined later today.

St. Benedict and St. Thomas shared the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship with St. Thomas earning the automatic bid and St. Benedict securing an at-large berth. The Blazers are 12-2-4 overall, while St. Thomas is 11-3-2 overall. Carroll won the Midwest Conference title and has a 16-2 overall record.

UW-Stevens Point won its 10th Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament title in 11 years with a 4-2 win over UW-Eau Claire Saturday. The Pointers are 17-0-2 overall and ranked second in Division III. UW-Stevens Point has the second-longest home unbeaten streak in the country at 28 straight.

UW-Stevens Point has never faced Aurora or Loras in school history. The Pointers are making their ninth tournament appearance and sixth straight trip to the postseason. UW-Stevens Point last hosted a regional The Pointers are 7-8 all-time in NCAA tournament matches.

UW-Stevens Point was the lone WIAC institution to reach the NCAA women's soccer tournament. UW-Eau Claire did not receive an at-large bid despite a 16-4-2 overall record.

2002 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament

Wednesday's First Round (campus sites)
Aurora, Ill. (19-2) vs. Loras, Iowa (17-4), 1:00 p.m.
St. Thomas, Minn. (11-3-2) vs. Carroll, Wis. (16-2), 1:00 p.m.

Saturday's Second Round - at Stevens Point
UW-Stevens Point (17-0-2) vs. Aurora/Loras winner, 11:00 a.m.
St. Benedict, Minn. (12-2-4) vs. St. Thomas/Carroll winner, 1:30 p.m.

Sunday's Third Round - at Stevens Point
Second Round winners, 1:00 p.m.

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Three Earn Women's Soccer Academic All-District Honors

RELEASED: Thursday, November 7, 2002

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer players have been named to the Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District Five Women's Soccer Team. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Jenny Bruce and Macy Mory earned first team honors, while UW-Oshkosh's Sandie Brink was named to the second team.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Elmhurst (Ill.) and the University of Indianapolis (Ind.) were the only other schools with more than one selection to the 11-member first team.

Bruce, a junior forward from Menasha, Wis., carries a 3.93 grade point average in sociology and earned Verizon Academic All-America Second Team honors last season. She has nine goals and five assists this year and ranks fourth in school history with 36 career assists and fifth in school history with 108 career points. Bruce was an All-Region First Team pick last season and is a two-time All-WIAC performer.

Mory, a senior defender from Madison, Wis. (Monona Grove H.S.), has a 3.62 grade point average in health promotion and wellness. She has spearheaded a Pointer defense that has posted 11 shutouts in 17 contests this season and has allowed only eight goals on the year. Mory was an All-WIAC selection last season and is also president of the WIAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Bruce and Mory are now eligible for Academic All-American honors.

Brink, a junior defender from Fond du Lac, Wis., was named to the Academic All-District Second Team for the second consecutive season. She is majoring in nursing and carries a 3.79 grade point average. Brink has started 19 matches this year for the Titans and tallied two goals. She has also helped the Titans register a school record-tying nine shutouts this season.

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UW-Stevens Point Claims Sixth Straight Women's Soccer Title

WIAC Championship Trophy The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point women's soccer squad clinched its sixth straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship with a thrilling 2-1 victory over UW-River Falls Saturday, Oct. 19 at River Falls.

Kelly Fink scored 2:30 into sudden-death overtime to give the Pointers their 10th championship in the 11-year history of the conference and home field for every round of the WIAC tournament that the Pointers advance. The tournament begins with the quarterfinal round on Nov. 5 and continues with the semifinals and finals on Nov. 8-9.

The win improved the Pointers' record to 12-0-2 overall and 7-0 in the WIAC, extending their unbeaten streak to 14 straight matches.

UW-Stevens Point scored 16 minutes into the match when Andrea Oswald took a corner kick and the ball was cleared out. Oswald gathered the loose ball near the top of the box and fired a high shot into the upper corner off the inside of the far post for a 1-0 lead.

UW-Stevens Point had numerous chances in the final 30 minutes, but Falcons’ goalie Apryl Jenrich continuously came up with outstanding saves, finishing with 20 overall, to keep the match tied.

The Pointers had a great chance early in overtime, but Jenrich again came up with a huge save, coming across the goal to stop a wide-open Oswald and preserve the match. However, later in overtime, Molly Cady chipped a ball over the defense that Fink chased down and pushed just inside the post for her 17th goal to give the Pointers the win.

The win also extended the Pointers’ NCAA record conference winning streak to 62 straight matches. A tie would also end the streak as the Pointers won their fourth overtime game during the stretch.

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McKuras Named Interim Women's Soccer Coach At UW-River Falls

RELEASED: Thursday, August 8, 2002

River Falls, Wis.--Sean McKuras has been named interim head coach of the UW-River Falls women's soccer team.

He was the team's assistant coach in 2001 when the Falcons finished 6-10-1 overall and 2-6 and in seventh place in the WIAC.

Before coming to UW-River Falls he was the head boy’s coach at Shakopee, Minn., High School in 2001, and in the spring of 2000 he was the head coach at the Eau Claire North High School’s girl’s varsity program.

In 1998 and 1999 McKuras was the head coach of the UW-Eau Claire men’s club team and helped lead the team to its best season ever. He was an assistant varsity boy’s and girl’s coach and head coach of the junior varsity at Eau Claire North High School in 1998 and 1999. Since 1994, he has been a coach with the Valley United Soccer Club in Apple Valley, Minn. In 2000, his U16 team won the State Cup championship and his 1999 team won the Minnesota State championship. In 1998, he helped lead a boy’s team to the Minnesota State title.

He earned the NSCAA Level 1 Goalkeepers License in 2000 and the USSF "C" national Coaching License in 2002.

McKuras replaces Jeff Hopkins who resigned in August.

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