2003 WIAC Women's Soccer Headlines

Seven Earn Women's Soccer All-Region Accolades

RELEASED: Tuesday, December 9, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Seven Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer players have been named to the 2003 adidas/National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Central Region Team.

UW-Whitewater's Christin Acklam and Staci Gustafson earned first team honors, while UW-Oshkosh's Lindsay Rau and UW-Stevens Point's Jenny Bruce were second team picks. UW-Eau Claire's Maleia Damato, UW-La Crosse's Amanda Pickett and UW-Oshkosh's Karin Reinke were third team selections.

Acklam, a senior midfielder from Whitefish Bay, Wis., started all 16 matches for the Warhawks and helped the squad to a school record 12-match unbeaten streak (11-0-1) this year. She led the team with 20 points and eight assists, while adding six goals.

Gustafson, a senior defender from Mukwonago, Wis., started all 16 matches this season and recorded four goals with four assists for 12 points.

Bruce, a senior forward from Menasha, Wis., was an all-region pick for the third straight year after capturing first team honors the past two seasons. She recorded a league-leading 48 points on 16 goals and 16 assists this year. Bruce is the conference's all-time leader in assists and ranks 11th in NCAA Division III history with 53 for her career. She also ranks third on the league's all-time chart with 161 career points.

Rau, a senior defender from Janesville, Wis. (Craig H.S.), earned all-region second team honors for the third straight season after helping UW-Oshkosh post a school record 12 shutouts and a league-best 0.50 goals against average.

Damato, a senior midfielder from Cedarburg, Wis., was an all-region first team selection a year ago. This season, she started 18 matches and scored four goals for eight points.

Pickett, a senior defender from Menasha, Wis., spearheaded a UW-La Crosse defense that posted seven shutouts and a 1.17 goals against average. The Eagles also put together a school record eight-match unbeaten streak (7-0-1) in 2003.

Reinke, a junior midfielder from Green Bay, Wis. (Southwest H.S.), started all 21 matches for UW-Oshkosh this year and ranked second on the team with 20 points and eight goals. She also added four assists.

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Three Earn Women's Soccer Academic All-America Honors, Bruce Named Academic All-American of the Year

RELEASED: Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer players have been named to the 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Women's Soccer Team. UW-Stevens Point's Jenny Bruce was named the Academic All-American of the Year in women's soccer, while UW-Stevens Point's Kelly Fink and UW-Stout's Carrie Schrank captured third team honors.

Bruce, a senior forward from Menasha, Wis., received the highest honor of any student-athlete in college division women's soccer as the Academic All-American of the Year. She is the first WIAC student-athlete ever to earn the award in any sport. An Academic All-America First Team choice, Bruce is also the first UW-Stevens Point athlete ever named to the Academic All-America Team three straight seasons.

Bruce, who was named the conference's scholar-athlete in women's soccer this season, is majoring in sociology and maintains a 3.94 grade point average. She was a third team selection to the academic all-america squad last year and was a second team pick as a sophomore. Bruce is the conference's all-time leader in assists and ranks 11th in NCAA Division III history with 53 for her career.

Fink, a senior forward from West Bend, Wis. (West H.S.), is majoring in elementary education and carries a 3.59 grade point average. She was named the WIAC Co-Player of the Year this season and ranks 11th in NCAA Division III history with 235 career points and 12th with 98 career goals.

Schrank, a junior midfielder from Reedsburg, Wis., posts a 3.90 grade point average with a major in graphic design. She helped the Blue Devils finish with a best-ever 12-7 overall record with a school record 19 assists and five goals for 29 points. Schrank led the NCAA Division III in assists in the latest rankings by the NCAA. She is school's all-time leader with 29 assists over the last three seasons.

The Academic All-America Team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes from around the country and is selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

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Four Women's Soccer Teams Earn NSCAA Academic Award

RELEASED: Friday, November 21, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer teams have earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for the 2002-03 school year. UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout and UW-Whitewater all received recognition for their efforts in the classroom.

A total of 336 intercollegiate soccer programs (71 men, 265 women) posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher, thereby earning the national award.

The awards will be presented at the College Coaches Luncheon on Thursday, January 15, 2004, as part of the 57th Annual NSCAA Convention, to be held in Charlotte, N.C., January 14-18, 2004.

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UW-River Falls' Carlson and UW-Stevens Point's Fink Lead All-WIAC Women's Soccer Team

RELEASED: Wedneday, November 19, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls' Sarah Carlson and UW-Stevens Point's Kelly Fink were named the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Co-Players of the Year, headlining the 22-member All-WIAC Women's Soccer Team, which was recently selected by the league coaches.

Carlson, a sophomore forward, led the Falcons to the first women's soccer title in school history this season, snapping UW-Stevens Point's six-year string of league championships. She ranked second in the conference with 16 goals, while placing third with 38 points and ninth with six assists. Carlson's 16 goals were the fifth-highest single-season total in school history, while her 38 points were sixth.

Fink, a senior forward, earned all-conference honors for the third straight season after helping the Pointers to the WIAC Tournament title for the 11th time in the 12-year history of the event and a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament. She led the league with 48 points and 21 goals and added six assists. Fink's 156 career points rank third on the conference's all-time list, while her 67 career goals position her fourth on the chart.

Fink transferred to UW-Stevens Point from Concordia (Wis.) and her totals from both institutions rank her in the top 15 in NCAA Division III history in career points and career goals.

Fink becomes the fourth straight Pointer to win the league's player of the year award, joining Molly Cady (2002), Mickey Jacob (2001) and Marie Muhvic (2000).

Jenny Bruce, Megan Frey and Tara Schmitt joined Fink on the All-WIAC squad. Bruce becomes the fifth player in conference history to capture all-league honors in four consecutive seasons. She led the league with 48 points and ranked second with 16 goals and 16 assists. Bruce established the conference's all-time assist mark with 53 career assists.

Frey finished the season with 16 points on eight assists and four goals, while Schmitt helped the Pointers register a league-high 12 shutouts. It was the third straight league honor for Schmitt.

Carlson was joined on the All-WIAC squad by Falcon teammates Apryl Jennrich and Ashley Peterson. Jennrich earned league accolades for the second straight season after registering 136 saves and a 0.84 goals against average in 1,817 minutes in goal. Her 0.84 goals against average was the second-best mark in UW-River Falls history. Peterson ranked second on the team with 20 points, seven goals and six assists.

UW-Eau Claire landed four players on the all-league team as Marcia Foltz, Maleia Damato, Kiley Zellner and Erin Ziech were recognized for their efforts.

Foltz ranked fifth in the conference with 12 goals, while placing sixth with 28 points. She also added four assists on the season.

Damato and Zellner earned all-league honors for the second straight season. Damato registered four goals and eight points, while Zellner accumulated eight goals, one assist and 17 points. Ziech contributed to a Blugold defense that compiled five shutouts this year.

UW-Oshkosh's Karin Reinke, Sara Tomajovich and Lindsay Rau earned All-WIAC honors following a 14-5-2 season for the Titans. Reinke accumulated eight goals and four assists for 20 points this year.

Tomjanovich and Rau helped the Titans post a school record 12 shutouts and a league-best 0.50 goals against average. Tomjanovich registered a 0.48 goals against average with 64 saves in 1,496 minutes in goal. Her goals against average mark established a school record and was the third-best mark in league history. Rau earned her third straight all-league honor, becoming the third player in school history to accomplish the feat.

Shannon Hermes, Carrie Schrank and Diane Ehlen helped UW-Stout to a school record 12 wins this season. Hermes ranked fourth in the league with 33 points and 14 goals, while adding five assists during the 2003 campaign. She also registered a league-high eight points and four goals against Finlandia (Mich.) on October 24.

Schrank led the conference with 19 assists and placed fifth with 29 points. Her 19 assists are the second-highest single-season total in WIAC history. Schrank is the school's all-time assists leader with 29 assists over the last three seasons.

Ehlen helped the Blue Devil defense ranked second in the league with 12 goals allowed, a 0.63 goals against average and 10 shutouts.

UW-Whitewater's Christin Acklam, Dani Daggett and Staci Gustafson earned All-WIAC accolades after helping the Warhawks to their fourth straight season of 10 or more wins (11-3-2), including a school record 12-match unbeaten streak (11-0-1). Acklam ranked ninth in the league with six assists and added six goals for 18 points.

Daggett earned her second consecutive All-WIAC honor after placing eighth in the conference with nine goals and adding two assists for a team-leading 20 points.

Gustafson also earned her straight league accolade following a season that saw her help the Warhawk defense register seven shutouts and a 1.03 goals against average.

UW-La Crosse's Amanda Pickett earned her third straight All-WIAC honor after spearheading an Eagle defense that posted seven shutouts and a 1.17 goals against average. The Eagles also put together a school record eight-match unbeaten streak (7-0-1) this season.

UW-Platteville's Jessi Jones became the second player in school history to earn three straight all-league honors. She led the team with four goals, three assists and 11 points.

UW-River Falls head coach Sean McKuras was selected the league's Coach of the Year for the second straight season. He guided the Falcons to a 17-4 record and the first WIAC women's soccer championship in school history. McKuras has compiled a 30-9-2 (.756) record in his two seasons at UW-River Falls.

2003 All-WIAC Women's Soccer Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Christin Acklam, UW-Whitewater, Senior, Midfielder, Whitefish Bay
Jenny Bruce, UW-Stevens Point, Senior, Forward, Menasha
Sarah Carlson, UW-River Falls, Sophomore, Forward, Plymouth, Minn. (Armstrong)
Dani Daggett, UW-Whitewater, Senior, Forward, Monona (Monona Grove)
Maleia Damato, UW-Eau Claire, Senior, Midfielder, Cedarburg
Diane Ehlen, UW-Stout, Senior, Defender, Bloomington, Minn. (Jefferson)
Kelly Fink, UW-Stevens Point, Senior, Forward, West Bend (West)
Marcia Foltz, UW-Eau Claire, Sophomore, Forward, Madison (Memorial)
Megan Frey, UW-Stevens Point, Junior, Midfielder, Wauwatosa (East)
Staci Gustafson, UW-Whitewater, Senior, Defender, Mukwonago
Shannon Hermes, UW-Stout, Freshman, Forward, Prior Lake, Minn.
Apryl Jennrich, UW-River Falls, Senior, Goalkeeper, Lino Lakes, Minn. (Centennial)
Jessi Jones, UW-Platteville, Junior, Midfielder, Brookfield (East)
Ashley Peterson, UW-River Falls, Freshman, Defender, Lino Lakes, Minn. (Forest Lake)
Amanda Pickett, UW-La Crosse, Senior, Defender, Menasha
Lindsay Rau, UW-Oshkosh, Senior, Defender, Janesville (Craig)
Karin Reinke, UW-Oshkosh, Junior, Midfielder, Green Bay (Southwest)
Tara Schmitt, UW-Stevens Point, Junior, Defender, Brookfield (Catholic Memorial)
Carrie Schrank, UW-Stout, Junior, Midfielder, Reedsburg
Sara Tomjanovich, UW-Oshkosh, Junior, Goalkeeper, Sturgeon Bay (Sevastopol)
Kiley Zellner, UW-Eau Claire, Junior, Midfielder, Green Bay (Preble)
Erin Ziech, UW-Eau Claire, Senior, Defender, McFarland

Co-Players of the Year: Sarah Carlson of UW-River Falls and Kelly Fink of UW-Stevens Point
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Jenny Bruce of UW-Stevens Point
Coach of the Year: Sean McKuras of UW-River Falls

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Six Earn Women's Soccer Academic All-District Honors

RELEASED: Thursday, November 13, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer players have been named to the 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-District Five Women's Soccer Team. UW-La Crosse's Jayna Stransky, UW-Stevens Point's Jenny Bruce and Kelly Fink and UW-Stout's Carrie Schrank were named to the first team, while UW-Stevens Point's Tara Schmitt and UW-Stout's Heidi Schultz earned second team recognition.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Stransky, a junior defender from McFarland, Wis., is majoring in spanish and carries a 4.00 grade point average. She was the only individual named to the 12-member first team that maintains a perfect grade point average. Stransky started all 15 matches for the Eagles this season and helped the defense record an 1.01 goals against average and seven shutouts.

Bruce, a senior forward from Menasha, Wis., earned academic all-district first team honors the third straight season. She was recently named the league's Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete in women's soccer and is majoring in sociology with a minor in health education and coaching, while maintaining a 3.94 grade point average. Bruce helped the Pointers to their seventh consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament berth by winning the WIAC Tournament title. She holds the conference record for career assists and ranks in the top five on the league's all-time list in career points and career goals.

Fink, a senior forward from West Bend, Wis. (West H.S.), is majoring in elementary education and maintains a 3.59 grade point average. She was one of three NCAA Division III players to earn the NSCAA Scholar All-American award in 2002. Fink ranks 13th in NCAA Division III history with 229 career points and 14th with 96 goals. She led the league in assists and ranked second in goals and points a year ago.

Schrank, a junior midfielder from Reedsburg, Wis., is majoring in graphic design and carries a 3.90 grade point average. She established a school single-season record with 19 assists this season and also leads the NCAA Division III in that category. Schrank added five goals this year and is the school's all-time assists leader with 29 assists over the last three seasons.

Stransky, Bruce, Fink and Schrank are now eligible for the Academic All-America squad, which will be announced later this month.

Schmitt, a junior defender from Brookfield, Wis. (Catholic Memorial H.S.), sustains a 3.82 grade point average, while majoring in physical education. She has started all 21 matches for the Pointers this season and ignites a defense that has recorded a 0.77 goals against average and a league-leading 12 shutouts.

Schultz, a sophomore midfielder from River Falls, Wis., has earned a 4.0 grade point average while majoring in graphic design. She was the lone individual named to the 10-member second team to maintain a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Schultz has started every game in her career for the Blue Devils and scored one goal and dished off nine assists this season.

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

RELEASED: Thursday, November 13, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Jenny Bruce has been named the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Bruce, a senior from Menasha, Wis., is majoring in sociology with a minor in health education and coaching and carries a 3.94 grade point average. She was a CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team selection last year after earning second team honors in 2001. Bruce is also a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been named to UW-Stevens Point's Dean's List. Additionally, she has earned scholarships from the school's sociology department.

Bruce, a team captain, recently helped the Pointers to their seventh consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament berth by winning the WIAC Tournament title. She is a two-time All-Central Region selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and a three-time All-WIAC First Team pick. Bruce holds the conference record for career assists and ranks in the top five on the league's all-time list in career points and career goals.

Bruce is a member of Alpha Kappa Delta and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies. She has also served as a volunteer in the UW-Stevens Point Sports Information Office and as an assistant high school coach.

Bruce becomes the seventh women's soccer student-athlete in school history to win the league's top scholastic honor, joining Macy Mory (2002), Marie Muhvic (2000), Janie Probst (1995), Suzanne Radmer (1994), Julie Brandt (1993) and Krista Soto (1992).

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Sarah Bahlman, Kacie Fry, Nicole Johnson and Kiley Zellner, UW-La Crosse's Amanda Pickett, UW-Oshkosh's Sandie Brink, UW-River Falls' Apryl Jennrich, UW-Stevens Point's Kelly Fink and UW-Whitewater's Staci Gustafson and Anne Larimer.

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 First Round Match

RELEASED: Monday, November 10, 2003

Stevens Point, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point women's soccer team will see a familiar foe when the NCAA Division III tournament opens on Wednesday, November 12.

The Pointers are making their seventh straight tournament appearance and will host Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament champion Macalester (Minn.) in a first round match Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Pointer Soccer Bowl.

UW-Stevens Point (14-3-3) and Macalester (13-4-3) played on Sept. 14 as the Scots claimed a 3-2 victory with a goal scored 40 seconds into overtime. The teams have met twice previously in the postseason with UW-Stevens Point winning 1-0 in 2000 and Macalester taking a 1-0 win in 1995. The 2000 appearance was Macalester's last trip to the tournament.

The winner advances to a regional on Saturday in Dubuque, Iowa to face Loras (19-1-1). The Pointers beat Loras 5-2 in last year's regional tournament.

The other half of the bracket has Puget Sound (Wash.) getting a bye to the regional in Dubuque and taking on the winner of a first round match between Whittier (Calif.) and Chapman (Calif.).

UW-Stevens Point won its 11th Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament title in 12 years with a 2-1 double overtime win over UW-River Falls Saturday. The Pointers have hosted postseason games four previous times, including two of the past three seasons.

Macalester ousted MIAC regular season champion St. Benedict on penalty kicks Saturday after the teams played to a scoreless tie. Loras also reached the postseason on penalty kicks, beating Luther after the teams played a scoreless tie in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference finals.

UW-Stevens Point had beaten Macalester three straight times before the Scots' win earlier this season. Macalester leads the all-time series 11-6. Both teams are making their 10th overall trip to the NCAA tournament.

2003 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Regional
Wednesday's First Round (campus sites)
Macalester, Minn. (13-4-3) at UW-Stevens Point (14-3-3)
Whittier, Calif. (12-5-2) at Chapman, Calif. (14-4)

Saturday's Second Round - at Dubuque, Iowa (times TBA)
Loras, Iowa (19-1-1) vs. Macalester/UW-Stevens Point winner
Puget Sound, Wash. (16-1-1) vs. Whittier/Chapman winner

Sunday's Third Round - at Dubuque, Iowa (time TBA)
Second Round winners

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Madison, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-River Falls women's soccer team got just what it needed on Wednesday, October 29 when UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater played to a 0-0 double overtime draw in Whitewater, Wis.

The stalemate between the Pointers and Warhawks gave the Falcons the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship in one of the most exciting women's soccer seasons in league history. The championship for the Falcons is the first in school history and breaks UW-Stevens Point's streak of six straight league crowns.

UW-River Falls completed the conference slate with a 6-2 mark (18 points), while UW-Stevens Point finished 5-1-2 (17 points). The Falcons will host the four-team league tournament beginning on November 7 and will face fourth seed UW-Oshkosh at 11:00 a.m. The other semifinal will feature second seed UW-Stevens Point and third seed UW-La Crosse at 2:00 p.m. Semifinal winners will meet at 1:00 p.m. on November 8 to decide the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

UW-River Falls, which has already established a school record for victories this season with 15, last hosted the league tournament in 1998.

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UW-Platteville Names Bianchi Head Soccer Coach

RELEASED: Friday, May 9, 2003

Platteville, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announced today that Christopher Bianchi will take on the head coaching position for the men's and women's soccer teams.

Bianchi replaces Craig Smith, who is leaving UW-Platteville to re-join his family in Alabama. Bianchi will also teach two courses in the UW-Platteville Education Department.

"I'm really excited about this opportunity," Bianchi said. "One of the things that attracted me here is that I'll have a dual role as a coach and as a teacher."

Bianchi was teaching at the Pittsford Central School District in Pittsford, NY, as a Social Studies instructor and is the Director of Soccer Player Development at the Varsity Sports Academy in Rochester, N.Y.

Bianchi has more than eight years of successful coaching at the high school level since his graduation from the St. John Fisher College in 1994, were he played soccer at the NCAA Division III level for three years.

Bianchi starting coaching in 1994 at the Nazareth Academy in Rochester, NY, guiding the varsity girls' soccer team to the first winning record in school history during his first year and four consecutive winning seasons altogether. Bianchi led the team to its first Section V Playoff tournament victory, a sectional final four berth in 1997 and coached the first soccer player to go Division I in school history.

In 1998, he went to the Pittsford Central School District and was named head coach for the boys' varsity team and in 2000 entered a position at the Dansville Central School District in Dansville, NY, as the head coach for the boys' soccer program. He rebuilt the program and ended its three-year losing streak by the second game of his first season During his tenure at Dansville, he established the Mustang Soccer Camp, serving as the camp's director. Bianchi has a combined record of 70-31-8 over his coaching career.

Bianchi has his NSCAA Coaching License and is an award-winning history teacher, honored with the WORK-TV13 Educator of the Week award in 2001 and twice was nominated for the Pittsford Educator Award. He has is Bachelor of Arts in History from St. John Fisher College and Master's of Science in Education from the State University of New York College at Brockport.

He captained his high school soccer team at Bishop Kearney in Rochester and was selected as First Team All-Star. He played First Division Soccer for the A.T. Soccer Club in Rochester from 1992 to 1996.

The Pioneers were 10-5-3 in men's soccer in 2002 and 2-16 in women's play.

"The future is really bright," Bianchi said. "The players are really excited and have high expectations."

The new coach wants to put his mark on the Pioneer program with aggressive players who know the game well.

"The trademark will be the commitment by our student-athletes, not only to athletics but to academics and to being good citizens," he said. "We want to play fast and furious. We'll have tough teams. We're going to work hard in practices. We want a high level of skill and also have a high level of tactical experience."

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