WIAC Women's Soccer Athletes of the Week

WIAC Women's Soccer
Athletes of the Week

Week of Oct. 19 - 25
Offense
Lisa Marco, Sophomore (Eau Claire/Memorial), Forward of UW-Eau Claire
Marco scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over UW-Oshkosh on Oct. 24 to allow UW-Eau Claire to secure second place in the WIAC standings. It was her fifth goal of the year and came with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation. On Oct. 25 against Carleton College (Minn.), she helped the Blugolds outshoot the Knights 17-5 but UW-Eau Claire came up just short 2-1.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Chelsea Hall, Junior, Midfielder, Lakeville, Minn.
UW-Oshkosh, Becca Blue, Freshman, Forward/Midfielder, Kimberly
UW-Platteville, Sarah Miller, Junior, Midfielder, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Central)
UW-River Falls, Eryn Lansverk, Sophomore, Midfielder, White Bear Lake, Minn.
UW-Stevens Point, Kirsti Nickels, Freshman, Forward, Appleton (East)
UW-Stout, Andrea Greer, Junior, Midfielder, Woodbury, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Emily Gerber, Sophomore, Forward, DeForest

Defense
Stephanie DesJardins, Senior (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South), Defender of UW-Whitewater
DesJardins scored two goals from an outside back position during her last regular season WIAC match to lead UW-Whitewater to a 2-1 win at UW-Stout on Oct. 24. She was very solid in limiting the BlueDevils’ scoring opportunities throughout the match.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Alyssa Walker, Sophomore, Defender, Madison (West)
UW-La Crosse, Sagan Pizzingrilli, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Madison (West)
UW-Oshkosh, Brittany Walder, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Waukesha (West)
UW-Platteville, Sarah Gengler, Senior, Defender, Hartford (Union)
UW-River Falls, Leah Hagen, Freshman, Defender, Ham Lake, Minn. (Blaine)
UW-Stevens Point, Liz Hunter, Junior, Goalkeeper, Stevens Point (SPASH)
UW-Stout, Courtney Tideman, Sophomore, Defender, Sartell, Minn.

Week of Oct. 12 - 18
Offense
Kirsti Nickels, Freshman (Appleton/East), Forward of UW-Stevens Point
In a match that decided the conference championship, Nickels powered the Pointer offense with a header goal just three minutes into the match. Five minutes later, she found the back of the net with a corner shot that put the Pointers up 2-0. Nickels completed her first career hat trick after taking a centering pass and slamming it home for the final tally in a 3-1 triumph that secured UW-Stevens Point’s second straight league crown. Nickels has a team-leading 10 goals this season.

Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Jessica Erny, Sophomore, Forward, Wauwatosa (East)
UW-River Falls, Janae Baron, Freshman, Forward, Hermantown, Minn.
UW-Stout, Jessica Price, Junior, Forward, Woodbury, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Emily Gerber, Sophomore, Forward/Midfielder, DeForest

Defense
Britta Elkin, Freshman (Davenport, Iowa/Central), Defender of UW-River Falls
Elkin was one of the team’s top defensive players in UW-River Falls’ two shutout wins during the week. She helped the Falcons to a 2-0 win at Northwestern College (Minn.) and a 3-0 win over UW-Oshkosh. The Falcons allowed just one shot on goal in the Northwestern match and five against the Titans. UW-Oshkosh entered the contest on a five-match winning streak.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Alli Kishaba, Senior, Midfielder, Eau Claire (Memorial)
UW-Oshkosh, Brittany Walder, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Waukesha (West)
UW-Stevens Point, Liz Hunter, Junior, Goalkeeper, Stevens Point (SPASH)
UW-Stout, Kaitlin Arjes, Junior, Defender, Owatonna, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Sara Brown, Senior, Midfielder, Lake Zurich, Ill.

Week of Oct. 5 - 11
Offense
Lindsay Wilde, Freshman (Grafton), Forward of UW-La Crosse
Wilde scored UW-La Crosse’s first goal in a 3-2 victory over UW-Stout on Oct. 10. It was her team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Lisa Marco, Sophomore, Forward, Eau Claire (Memorial)
UW-Oshkosh, Caitlin Casey, Junior, Midfielder, Waukesha (West)
UW-Stevens Point, Vicki Bieschke, Junior, Oconomowoc (Waukesha Memorial)
UW-Stout, Jessica Price, Junior, Forward, Woodbury, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Stacey Schultz, Sophomore, Midfielder, Menomonee Falls

Defense
Jenna Samp, Junior (Palatine, Ill.), Defender of UW-Whitewater
Samp led the Warhawk backline during the week, posting a shutout over Finlandia University (Mich.), while scoring a goal in the match. In addition, she led the backline and defense in holding UW-Eau Claire to one goal in a 1-1 double overtime draw on Oct. 10.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Emily Kidd, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, St. Paul, Minn. (Como Park)
UW-La Crosse, Sarah Joost, Sophomore, Defender, Waukesha (West)
UW-Oshkosh, Carly Roiniotis, Freshman, Defender, Pleasant Prairie (Kenosha Tremper)
UW-Stevens Point, Mary Jean Cornelius, Junior, Defender, West Bend (West)
UW-Stout, Christy Wright, Freshman, Defender, Eden Prairie, Minn.

Week of Sept. 28 - Oct. 4
Offense
Eryn Lansverk, Sophomore (White Bear Lake, Minn.), Midfielder of UW-River Falls
Lansverk played a key role in helping the Falcons to a split in two WIAC matches during the week. She scored the team’s goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to UW-Stout on Sept. 30 at Ramer Field. Lansverk scored in the 32nd minute to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead at the time. On Oct. 3 against UW-Whitewater at Ramer, she scored the only goal of the match to help the Falcons to a 1-0 win. She scored, beating two Warhawk players up the middle of the field, with just under eight minutes left in the contest. Lansverk leads the Falcons in scoring with nine goals (including three match-winning goals) and 21 points.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Shyla Gilbertson, Freshman, Forward, Waunakee
UW-Oshkosh, Carmen Fiordellisi, Sophomore, Forward, Bay Port (Howard)
UW-Platteville, Anna Strasser, Freshman, Forward, Lodi
UW-Stout, Ali Sonsteby, Junior, Forward, Clearwater, Minn. (Monticello)

Defense
Nikki Reed, Sophomore (Muskego), Defender of UW-Oshkosh
Reed booted a free kick into the goal with 45 seconds left to give UW-Oshkosh a 2-1 victory over UW-Stout on Oct. 3 in Menomonie. Reed registered her first collegiate goal after a UW-Stout player was called for a trip. The 18-yard free kick was one of only two shots attempted by Reed in the contest. Reed played all 90 minutes against the Blue Devils. She played a key defensive role in limiting UW-Stout without a goal for the first 82 minutes of play.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Alyssa Walker, Sophomore, Defender, Madison (West)
UW-Platteville, Alysa Strasser, Freshman, Defender, Lodi
UW-River Falls, Rachel Thompson, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Cedar Falls, Iowa
UW-Stevens Point, Kelly Lloyd, Junior, Defender, Fond du Lac
UW-Stout, Courtney Tideman, Sophomore, Defender, Sartell, Minn.

Week of Sept. 21 - 27
Offense
Grace Salwasser, Sophomore (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park), Forward of UW-Stout
On the week, Salwasser had a hand in two game-winning goals and an assist that tied the game. Against UW-Platteville in a 2-0 win, Salwasser took the corner kick that led to UW-Stout's first and eventual winning goal. The following day, Salwasser took the corner kick that led to the game-tying goal against St. Norbert College late in the first half, then got the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal in the box, taking a pass from Kaitlin Arjes in a 3-1 non-conference home win against the Green Knights.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Emily Alsheskie, Freshman, Forward, Plymouth (St. Mary’s Springs)
UW-Oshkosh, Carmen Fiordellisi, Sophomore, Forward, Howard (Bay Port)
UW-River Falls, Kayla Scott, Senior, Forward, Kiel
UW-Stevens Point, Sammy Greer, Freshman, Forward, Rubicon
UW-Whitewater, Becky Cera, Senior, Midfielder, Wauwatosa (West)

Defense
Anna Gutknecht, Junior (Buffalo, Minn.), Defender of UW-River Falls
Gutknecht played another strong defensive match for the Falcons in a 3-1 win at UW-La Crosse on Sept. 26. It was the first victory for the Falcons at UW-La Crosse since Sept. 27, 2000. Gutknecht has been a strong performer for the Falcons this season with three of her five shots being on goal.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Emily Kidd, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, St. Paul, Minn. (Como Park)
UW-Platteville, Karen Bublitz, Sophomore, Defender, Muskego
UW-Stevens Point, Liz Hunter, Junior, Goalkeeper, Stevens Point (SPASH)
UW-Stout, Courtney Tideman, Sophomore, Defender, Sartell, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Sara Brown, Senior, Midfielder, Lake Zurich, Ill.

Week of Sept. 14 - 20
Offense
Shyla Gilbertson, Freshman (Waunakee) Forward of UW-Eau Claire
In three matches during the week, Gilbertson helped the Blugolds go undefeated. In the conference opener against UW-Stout, she scored the game-winning goal in overtime on a penalty kick to give the Blugolds a 2-1 win. She recorded goals in a 5-2 victory over UW-River Falls and a 5-2 triumph over Macalester College (Minn.).

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Amy Warren, Senior, Forward, Vadnais Heights, Minn. (White Bear Lake)
UW-Oshkosh, Nicole Strieker, Freshman, Midfielder, Janesville (Parker)
UW-Platteville, Anna Strasser, Freshman, Midfielder, Lodi
UW-River Falls, Eryn Lansverk, Sophomore, Midfielder, White Bear Lake, Minn.
UW-Stevens Point, Vicki Bieschke, Junior, Forward, Oconomowoc (Waukesha Memorial)
UW-Stout, Jessica Price, Junior, Forward, Woodbury, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Emily Gerber, Junior, Forward/Midfielder, DeForest

Defense
Ashley Alonso, Freshman (McFarland), Defender of UW-Platteville
Alonso anchored a defense that yielded just one goal in three matches and helped the Pioneers snap two long WIAC streaks. UW-Platteville beat UW-La Crosse 1-0, breaking an 0-18-1 skid against the Eagles, and tied UW-Oshkosh 1-1, stopping an 0-16 slide against the Titans. The Pioneers also blanked Waldorf College (Iowa) 8-0.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Sam Krueger, Senior, Defender, Elkhorn
UW-La Crosse, Sagan Pizzingrilli, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Madison (West)
UW-Oshkosh, Nikki Reed, Sophomore, Defender, Muskego
UW-River Falls, Jessi Larson, Senior, Defender, Winona, Minn. (Cotter)
UW-Stevens Point, Stephanie Wolf, Junior, Defender, Kenosha (Bradford)
UW-Stout, Kaitlin Arjes, Junior, Goalkeeper, Owatonna, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Kelsey Finn, Freshman, Defender, Glendale (Nicolet)

Week of Sept. 7 - 13
Offense
Rachel Nerison, Sophomore (Maple Grove, Minn.), Defender of UW-Eau Claire
Nerison helped the Blugolds take the lead twice in a match against 2008 NCAA Division III national runner-up and fifth-ranked Wheaton College (Ill.) on Sept. 12. She scored the matches first goal at 7:02 to take the 1-0 lead, and after Wheaton answered, Nerison found the net once again at 23:57 to give the Blugolds a 2-1 advantage. Unfortunately, UW-Eau Claire was unable to hold on and fell 4-2. In the Blugolds’ 1-0 win against Augsburg College (Minn.) on Sept. 9, Nerison was credited with two shots. She leads the Blugolds with five points on the season.

Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Carmen Fiordellisi, Sophomore, Forward, Howard (Bay Port)
UW-River Falls, Eryn Lansverk, Sophomore, Midfielder, White Bear Lake, Minn.
UW-Stevens Point, Kristi Nickels, Freshman, Forward, Appleton (East)
UW-Whitewater, Stacey Schultz, Sophomore, Midfielder, Menomonee Falls

Defense
Brittany Walder, Sophomore (Waukesha/West), Goalkeeper of UW-Oshkosh
Walder recorded her second career shutout as UW-Oshkosh opened WIAC play with a 1-0 overtime win over UW-La Crosse on Sept. 12. She saved 14 shots, including eight in the second half, while guarding the UW-Oshkosh goal for all 91:58 of the match. Walder’s performance helped UW-Oshkosh win its WIAC opener for the third time in four years and snap a three-match losing streak to UW-La Crosse.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Alli Kishaba, Senior, Midfielder, Eau Claire (Memorial)
UW-La Crosse, Sagan Pizzingrilli, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Madison (West)
UW-River Falls, Rachel Thompson, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Cedar Falls, Iowa
UW-Stevens Point, Ashley Anders, Junior, Defender, Fond du Lac
UW-Stout, Courtney Tideman, Sophomore, Defender, Sartell, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Jenna Samp, Junior, Defender, Palatine, Ill.

Week of Aug. 31 - Sept. 6
Offense
Jackie Spees, Senior (Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln), Midfielder of UW-Stevens Point
After missing the season opener with an injury, Spees returned to lead the Pointers to consecutive non-conference road victories. Against Luther College (Iowa), Spees scored just four minutes into the match. Then 15 minutes later, she found the back of the net to give the Pointers a 2-0 lead enroute to a 3-0 win. The next day against Nebraska Wesleyan University, Spees again started strong, this time scoring three minutes into the match. She added an assist in the second half as the Pointers cruised to another 3-0 victory.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Shyla Gilbertson, Freshman, Forward, Waunakee
UW-La Crosse, Lindsay Wilde, Freshman, Forward, Grafton
UW-Oshkosh, Carmen Fiordellisi, Sophomore, Forward, Howard (Bay Port)
UW-Platteville, Allie Metcalfe, Junior, Forward, Madison (Monona Grove)
UW-River Falls, Janae Baron, Freshman, Forward, Hermantown, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Emily Gerber, Junior, Forward, Midfielder, DeForest

Defense
Cassie Stang, Freshman (Stillwater, Minn./Mahtomedi), Defender of UW-River Falls
Stang had a strong start to her collegiate career with three starts. Stang scored her first collegiate goal in the team’s 3-3 overtime tie against Northland College on Sept. 5. She also picked up an assist on the team’s first goal in a 2-0 win over Simpson College on Sept. 1. Her three points is third on the team.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Megan Hillesheim, Junior, Defender, Ham Lake, Minn. (Blaine)
UW-La Crosse, Saskia Taylor, Freshman, Midfielder, Madison (West)
UW-Platteville, Alysa Strasser, Freshman, Defender, Lodi
UW-Stevens Point, Mary Jean Cornelius, Junior, Midfielder, West Bend (West)
UW-Stout, Kaitlin Arjes, Junior, Goalkeeper, Owatonna, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Kelsey Finn, Freshman, Defender, Glendale (Nicolet)

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