Women's Soccer 8/31/2010 1:13:30 PM UWRF Sports Information

Soccer Team Opens Season Hosting St. Mary's on Wednesday

The 2010 Falcon soccer team opens its season on Wednesday hosting St. Mary's University at Ramer Field. Action will start at 4 p.m.

This year's team has eight starters and 14 letter winners returning from the 2009 team that finished 9-10-2 overall and an outstanding 5-3 in the WIAC. The Falcons finished third in the final WIAC standings.

“We're excited about our returning players,” said Falcon Coach Sean McKuras who enters his ninth season with the Falcons. He has an 80-62-13 career record at UWRF. “Our returnees have gotten stronger and I think our first year players will make an impact.”

The Falcons lost four fine players to graduation – defender Jessi Larson, midfielder Kristen George and forwards Megan Rasmussen and Kayla Scott. “We also lost a few players to transfers, but that's how rosters change from year to year,” said McKuras.

UW-River Falls totaled 39 goals during the 2009 campaign and returns every player that tallied a goal. In addition, the Falcons welcome back seven of the top eight point producers.

UWRF returns three players who were named to the 2009 All-WIAC team – defender Cassie Stang (Stillwater, MN, Mahtomedi), midfielder Eryn Lansverk (White Bear Lake, MN, White Bear Lake) and forward Janae Baron (Hermantown, MN). “We should be very strong up the middle with the three All-WIAC players back,” said McKuras.

Lansverk had 11 goals and 26 points to lead the Falcons in scoring last year. She led the team in goals and game-winning goals with four. Baron was second on the team with 10 goals and 25 points. She had three game winners. Stang was fourth in scoring with three goals and nine points. She converted a penalty kick during the 2009 season.

Midfielder Carlin Bunting (Cottage Grove, MN, Hastings) is also back after she finished third in scoring with five goals and 12 points. She had one game winner. Another key player back is Megan Church (White Bear Lake, MN, White Bear Lake) who had three goals and eight points.

Rachel Thompson (Cedar Falls, IA, Cedar Falls) played all 21 games in goal for the Falcons in 2009. She had a 1.44 goals against average and recorded five shutouts. The Falcons averaged 1.8 goals per game and allowed 1.43.

The Falcons have three seniors, five juniors, five sophomores and seven freshmen on the 20-player 2010 roster.

The Falcons have another tough schedule in 2010. They will play Hamline, Augsburg and Macalester from the MIAC and those teams, along with St. Mary's, are usually in the top half of the final conference standings.

UWRF opens its WIAC season on Sept. 18 hosting Platteville at Ramer Field. “It will be a monster game for us,” predicted McKuras. “Last year we won in two overtimes down there and got another overtime win a couple of years ago. That game will give us a good idea of how we will match up in the WIAC.

“The WIAC is very scary again this year,” said McKuras. “Stevens Point and Eau Claire have been one and two in the final standings for the past six years, and they will both be very good again. After that, it's a tossup as to where the teams will finish.

“We played very well in conference games last year and our third place finish was outstanding. If we could repeat that it would be great,” said McKuras. The Falcons were picked to finish seventh last year in the annual sports information directors poll.

This year the Falcons are picked for a fifth place finish in the same poll. Stevens Point is picked to finish first followed by Eau Claire, Whitewater and Oshkosh.

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