Madison, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team is projected to win its fourth straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) title based on a preseason poll released Wednesday, according to the league's head coaches and sports information directors. 

UWL finished 16-4-2 overall and 6-0-1 in the WIAC in 2024 under head coach Jason Murphy. The Eagles won the WIAC regular season and tournament titles while advancing to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III First Round. It was UWL's third straight conference tournament championship.

The Eagles have played in the NCAA Division III Championships in seven of the last nine seasons under Murphy. UWL has earned three (2017, 2021, 2023) trips to the national quarterfinals and two (2017, 2022) appearances in the third round.

UW-Platteville is projected second this season followed by UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, UW-River falls, UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stout.  

Returning 18 letterwinners and five starters, UWL has had at least four players named to the All-WIAC Team for 10 consecutive years. Junior forward Jillian Sawadski of Mount Prospect, Ill. (Prospect) was named to the 2024 All-WIAC Team after starting all 22 games. She led the Eagles in goals (11), points (25) and shots on goal (30). Sawadski was second on the team in game-winning goals (3) and finished fourth in shots (46).

Sawadski is joined by nine other returning letter winners as juniors. Forward Aubree Caya of Oregon (H.S.) and defenders Megan McNeely of Kenosha (Bradford) and Jessica Stewart of Plainfield, Ill. (North) played in all 22 games last season with Stewart starting in each contest. Caya started 16 games and finished third for UWL in goals (7) and points (19) while recording five assists. McNelly started six games.

Junior midfielders Sera Speltz of Winona, Minn. (Cotter) and Natalia Stadler of Muskego (H.S.) along with junior defenders Emily Pikarski of Chicago, Ill. (Loyola Academy) and Claire Rankin of Waterloo, Iowa (West) also return. Speltz played in all 23 games in 2023, recording six goals and 14 points. She missed last year due to injury. Stadler appeared in 17 games a year ago while Pikarski played in 15 and Rankin in 12.

Goalkeeper Robin Blair of Great Falls, Mont. (C.M. Russell) and midfielders Logan Fritsch of Palmyra (Mukwonago) and Kaitlyn Kurtz of Chicago, Ill. (Loyola Academy) make up UWL's senior class. Blair appeared in four games last season while Fritsch played in 14 and Kurtz in 21 (two starts).
 

 
Seven sophomores return as letter winners, including forwards Katelyn Studebaker of Oregon (H.S.) and Amaya Thesing of Onalaska (H.S.) who played in all 22 games last season. Midfielder Kate Heiderscheit of La Crosse (Central) appeared in 21 contests last season. Midfielder Grace Petrina of Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley) played in 15 games with forward Grace Williams of St. Charles, Ill. (East) appearing in seven.

Goalkeepers Erelyn Apel of Prairie du Sac (Sauk Prairie) and Summer Nicolai of Onalaska (H.S.) also return. Apel played in 15 games in 2024, finishing with a 0.56 goals against average and 10-1-1 record. Nicolai appeared in seven contests, compiling a 1.02 goals against average.

UWL welcomes three junior transfers and eight freshmen.

Murphy is 154-43-25 (.750) overall and 56-8-7 (.838) in WIAC play at UW-La Crosse with 60 all-conference selections earned in his first 11 seasons.  He is 195-76-27 (.733) overall as a collegiate head coach in 15 seasons after serving four years at the helm at Marian University (Wis.). Murphy was named the 2015 WIAC Coach of the Year and UWL earned the 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024 WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award.  He has led UWL to six (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024) WIAC regular season titles and five (2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024) conference tournament championships.

Murphy is joined by assistant coaches Ellie Arndt, Ryan Raufus and Joe Czerniak in 2025.  

UWL opens its 2025 season hosting Carroll University (Wis.) on Friday, August 29 at 4 p.m. The Eagles play their first four games at home and six of the first eight overall. For the complete schedule, click here.