Sports
Two Pointer teammates celebrate after winning the WIAC title last weekend.
Soccer earns WIAC Championship title, NCAA bid
The Pointer
bhaig870@uwsp.edu
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point women’s soccer coach Sheila Miech has been holding her team to high expectations this year, and so far they’ve passed with flying colors.
“With the talented team that we have this year, I definitely expected to win the WIAC,” said Miech.
The UW-Stevens Point women’s soccer team (17-3) cruised to their twelfth Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday afternoon. The Pointers defeated the Blugolds of UW-Eau Claire 3-1 at the Point Soccer Bowl for the title. That win earned the Pointers the league’s automatic bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III tournament.
UW-Eau Claire controlled the ball early and got on the board first, scoring early in the game as Jamie Schiesel assisted Alyssa Walker for the header goal, her first of the season. The Pointers then tied the game when junior Jackie Spees found sophomore Leah Larson as she scored the second point of the game, her second goal of the season.
Both teams’ strong defenses held the score at 1-1 heading into halftime, senior Kaylee Weise scored an unassisted goal to put the Pointers up a point at 2-1. The Pointers eventually picked up one more goal as a misplayed ball by a Blugold defender resulted in the 3-1 Pointer win.
Senior Pam Luckow recorded four saves in the victory for the Pointers, the first championship for the Pointers since 2004. It was Luckow’s seventeenth win this season.
This Saturday, the Pointers will host Edgewood College at 11 a.m. at the Point Bowl once again. Edgewood College is the winner of the Northern Athletics Conference automatic bid. The Pointers defeated the Eagles 7-0 in their meeting early in 2008 at the Point Soccer Bowl.
Coach Miech is very optimistic about the home advantage in the first round of playoffs, but still reserves the right to take the playoffs one game at a time.
“If you step out on that field and you’re already thinking about the next game, you’re going to get beat,” said Miech.
“I am expecting great things from this team, because we had a great season and we have great experience. I’ve never changed that thought from day one ... this is a talented team and the expectations are very high,” said Miech.
Miech also attributes her success to her coaching staff and community support.
“I just really am excited that we have such a great coaching staff,” Miech said.
