Women's Soccer | 8/19/2026 12:03:00 PM

WIAC Preview

Madison, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team is projected to win its fifth 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 19-3-1 overall and 6-0-1 in the WIAC in 2025 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 Second Round. It was UWL's fourth straight regular season conference tournament championship.

The Eagles have played in the NCAA Division III Championships in eight of the last 10 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-River Falls is projected second this season followed by UW-Platteville, UW-Whitewater, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire.  

Returning 23 letterwinners and all 11 starters, UWL has had at least four players named to the All-WIAC Team for 11 consecutive years. The Eagles had eight all-conference selections a year ago, including seven earning seven first team accolades. Senior forward Jillian Sawadski of Mount Prospect, Ill. (Prospect) was named to the 2024 and 2025 All-WIAC Team. She earned 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Region IX Second Team honors after finishing second for UWL in assists (12), tied for second in points (34) and fourth in goals (11). Sawadski became the second player in school history to record double-digit goals and assists in the same season, joining Jennifer Tischaefer who accomplished the feat in 1996 and 1997.

Sawadski was joined on the 2025 All-WIAC Team with senior forward Aubree Caya of Oregon (H.S.), senior midfielder Sera Speltz of Winona, Minn. (Cotter), senior defender Allison Steeno of Appleton (Kimberly), junior goalkeeper Summer Nicolai of Onalaska (H.S.) and sophomore midfielder Ella Opie of Pewaukee (H.S.) and sophomore defender Monica Wawrzyn of Delafield (Kettle Moraine). Junior midfielder Amaya Thesing of Onalaska (H.S.) earned 2025 All-WIAC Honorable Mention laurels.

Caya, Speltz and Steeno were selected to the 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Region IX First Team while Wawrzyn earned second team honors.
 

Selected the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year, Caya earned United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team honors. She set single-season school records in goals (24), points (55) and shots (91) last season while leading NCAA Division III in goals and ranking second in points. Speltz was second for UWL in goals (14) while tying for second in points (34), game-winning goals (3) and shots (53).

Steeno and Wawrzyn helped the Eagles' defense record 15 shutouts last season, allowing 14 goals in 23 games (0.61 goals per game). Wawrzyn was voted the WIAC Newcomer of the Year and tied the school record for single-season assists (13).

Named the 2025 WIAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Nicolai went 17-3-1 with a 0.61 goals against average. She recorded 9.0 shutouts. Opie finished the season with eight goals, 10 assists and 26 points, finishing third for UWL in assists and fourth in points. Thesing was fourth in goals (10). 

Murphy is 173-46-26 (.759) overall and 62-8-8 (.846) in WIAC play at UWL with 68 all-conference selections earned in his first 12 seasons.  He is 214-79-28 (.710) 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 2017-18, 2022-24 WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award.  He has led UWL to seven (2015, 2017-18, 2022-25) WIAC regular season titles and six (2017-18, 2022-25) conference tournament championships.

Murphy is joined by assistant coaches Ellie Arendt, Ainsley Allan, Joe Czerniak, and Alexis McMahon in 2026.  

UWL, receiving votes in the IWSOC/United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, opens its 2026 season at Carroll University (Wis.) on Tuesday, September 1. The Eagles play their first home game on Wednesday, September 9 hosting Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.). UWL starts WIAC play hosting UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, October 3. For the complete schedule, click here.