La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team opened Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play with a 3-1 victory over UW-Stevens Point Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex as part of Pride Week/Playing For A Cause.
The Eagles improve to 11-0 while the Pointers drop to 5-3-3. UW-Stevens Point was also playing in its conference opener Saturday.
The 11-0 start is the best in WIAC history. UW-Eau Claire started 10-0 in 2006 and UW-Stevens Point in 2010.
Jillian Sawadski recorded a goal and assist Saturday.
RANKINGS
* UWL is ranked 15th on the Intercollegiate Women's Soccer Organization for Coaches (IWSOC) Poll in partnership with the United Soccer Coaches.
SERIES RECORD
* UW-Stevens Point now leads the all-time series, 26-15-6, UWL. The Eagles have won the last 10 meetings with the Pointers, recording eight shutouts.
WIAC PLAY
* UWL has won the last four (2022-25) WIAC regular season titles. The Eagles have earned eight (1996, 2015, 2017-18, 2022-25) championships in school history.
* UWL is the first team in league history to win four straight titles since UW-Whitewater (2011-14). UW-Stevens Point won four consecutive crowns (1992-95) and a league record six straight (1997-2002).
* UWL extended its WIAC unbeaten streak to 29 (27-0-2) with Saturday's win. The Eagles tied UW-Platteville on October 9, 2024 ( 2-2) and October 22, 2025 (1-1). UWL's last conference loss came to UW-Oshkosh on October 23, 2021 (2-1).
HOME SUCCESS
* The Eagles improve to 97-16-12 at home under head coach
Jason Murphy, including 54-2-5 in the last six seasons.
* UWL's last home loss (3-1) came to then fourth-ranked Christopher Newport University (Va.) on September 27, 2024.
* The Eagles are 24-0-2 at home in their last 26 games with ties coming against Carleton College (Minn.) on October 20, 2024 ( 2-2) and versus UW-Platteville on October 22, 2025 (1-1).
Katelyn Studebaker recorded the game-winning goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED – FIRST HALF
* UWL took a 1-0 lead at 6:29 on
Jillian Sawadski's goal off
Sera Speltz' assist.
* UW-Stevens Point tied the game, 1-1, on Piper Gunderson's goal at 9:41. Piper Hanley and Christa Borchardt recorded assists.
* UWL finished with 19 shots and four corner kicks in the first half while UW-Stevens Point totaled one shot.
HOW IT HAPPENED – SECOND HALF
*
Katelyn Studebaker scored the eventual game-winning goal for UWL at 53:21 on a Sawadski assist to make it 2-1.
* Speltz extended the lead to 3-1 at 76:41 on a penalty kick goal.
UWL LEADERS
* UWL finished with 33 shots, including 15 on goal. The Eagles had all nine corner kicks in the game.
* Speltz led UWL with seven shots, including six on goal. Sawadski totaled six shots with three on goal while
Aubree Caya finished with five shots, including three on goal.
*
Summer Nicolai earned the win in goal.
UW-STEVENS POINT LEADERS
* UW-Stevens Point finished with two shots, including one on goal.
* Gunderson and Sofia Jimenez each had one shot.
* Jocelyn Blahnik suffered the loss, registering 12 saves.
UP NEXT
* UWL hosts UW-River Falls on Wednesday, October 6 at 6 p.m.
