Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's soccer team has been selected to finish second in the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer regular-season title, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

UW-Eau Claire is slotted for second in the conference race. The Blugolds have three regular-season titles, with the most recent in 2007. This year's roster features eight returning starters, including Kennedy Boll (Sr. - Franklin, Wis.), Paige Crawford (Jr. - Elk River, Minn.), and Elise Pinewski (Sr. - Anoka, Minn.) – all earned All-WIAC first-team honors in 2023. UW-Eau Claire has reached double digits in overall wins for four consecutive seasons and three years with at least four WIAC victories in that stretch.

2024 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors

1. UW-La Crosse (20-1-2 overall, 7-0 WIAC)

2. UW-Eau Claire (10-5-4, 4-2-1)

3. UW-Platteville (10-3-5, 4-1-2)

4. UW-Oshkosh (5-10-4, 3-3-1)

5. UW-Stevens Point (8-11-1, 3-4)

6. UW-Whitewater (5-9-5, 1-4-2)

7. UW-River Falls (6-8-4, 1-4-2)

8. UW-Stout (5-11-2, 1-6)

The Blugolds will begin their regular season on the road Friday, August 30th against the College of Saint Benedict. UWEC's home opener is scheduled for Sunday, September 1st with St. Olaf College coming to town.

All WIAC teams will begin their non-conference schedules on Aug. 30 while the conference slate will commence on Oct. 2. The top six teams in the league standings will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's). The event will be held Nov. 5, Nov. 7 and Nov. 9 with all matches hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic NCAA bid.