Blue Devil Football

September 29, 1997

BLUE DEVILS HEAD TO EAU CLAIRE FOR BLUGOLDS' HOMECOMING

UW-Stout Blue Devils (2-1, 1-0) at UW-Eau Claire Blugolds (2-1, 0-1)
Saturday, October 4, 1 p.m.
Carson Park, Eau Claire, Wis.

LAST WEEK: Stout: The Blue Devils' stunned the NCAA Division III football world by taking down nationally ranked UW-La Crosse, 28-21, at La Crosse in overtime. Ryan Patt (So, North Fond du Lac) rushed for 109 yards on 20 carries and the winning TD in overtime, a 6-yard push up the middle. Stout outyarded the Eagles, 430-377, gaining 204 yards rushing to LaCrosse's 119 and throwing for 226 yards to the Eagles' 258. Shawn Lund (So, Ashland) gained 89 yards rushing, while Matt Bunyan (Jr, Janesville) passed to Scott Wojcik (Sr, Marshfield) five times for 87 yards and a TD. Bunyan found Lund four times for 64 yards and score and Jim Pillars (So, Chicago, Ill) twice for 30 yards and a TD. On the afternoon, Bunyan was 16-for-34 with three TDs and two interceptions, the first of the season.

Eau Claire: The Blugolds dropped their first game of the season, a 50-34 decision at UW-Whitewater. The Blugolds jumped out to take a 14-0 first quarter lead - the first time Whitewater had been scored on all season - but the Warhawks answered back to knot the score in the quarter. Whitewater outscored Eau Claire, 14-3 in the second quarter and 15-10 in the third to pull away. Quarterback Sean Hoolihan (Jr, Spring Valley) was 21-of-39 for 290 yards and rushed for 56 yards and a TD. Running back Chad Hoiska (Sr, Sturgeon Bay) had 78 yards on 13 carries. Steve Crutchley (Jr, Black River Falls) pulled down five passes for 109 yards and a TD. Whitewater tallied 518 total yards, while Eau Claire piled up 487.

LAST YEAR: Both Stout and LaCrosse play in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and are affiliated with the NCAA Division III. Stout was 4-6 overall, 1-6 in the conference last season and finished seventh. Eau Claire was 5-5, 3-4 in conference play for fifth place.

THE SERIES: The Blugolds hold a 41-23-2 lead in the series that began in 1917 with a 49-0 Stout win. Last year, the two teams played even for the first 40 minutes, until Eau Claire scored twice to pull ahead 28-14. Stout answered with a TD and a field.

STOUT PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Matt Bunyan (#19, 6-6, 230, Jr, Janesville) 111-56-2, 8 TD, 871 yds; WR Scott Wojcik (#18, 6-3, 210, Sr, Marshfield) 15 rec, 349 yds, 3 TDs; WR Jimmy Pillars (#80, 6-5, 220, So Chicago, Ill) 12 rec, 197 yds, 2 TD; FB Ryan Patt (#42, 6-2, 210, So, North Fond du Lac) 196 yards on 39 carries; LB Sam Standard (#1, 6-1, 220, Indianapolis, Ind) 23 tackles, 15 solo, 6 tackles-for-losses of 39 yds, 1 sack for 10 yds, 1 fumble recovery; Blue Devils avg 446 total ypg, 141 rushing, 305 passing; gave up 273 total ypg, 120 rushing, 153 passing

EAU CLAIRE PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Sean Hoolihan (#9, 6-0, 185, Jr, Spring Valley) 78-45-2, 6 TD, 685 yds, 27-for-160 rushing; HB Chad Hoiska (#26, 5-9, 185, Sr, Sturgeon Bay) 44 carries, 254 yds, 6 TDs; TE Dan McCarty (#85, 6-4, 230, Sr, Sturgeon Bay) 12 rec, 206 yds, 2 TDs; HB BJ Jones (5-9, 175, Jr, Plainview, Minn) 33 carries, 247 yds, 1 TD; CB Ben Buss (#6, 6-1, 185, So, Marshfield) 3 int, 26 yds; Eau Claire avg 558 yd/game, 286.3 rushing, 271.7 passing; gave up 306.7 ypg, 93.7 rushing, 213 passing.

OFFENSIVE LOOK: Eau Claire: The Blugolds run a multiple-pro set Stout: The Blue Devils utilize a multi-pro set which incorporates a West Coast offense.

DEFENSIVE LOOK: Eau Claire: Multiple Stout: 4-3

COACHES: Stout's Ed Meierkort (15-28 career) is in his fifth year, while Eau Claire's Bob Nielson (7-6 at EC, 55-28-1 overall) is in his second year at Eau Claire, his eighth overall.

STOUT COACH ED MEIERKORT SAYS: We were very resilient last week. We just didn't get rattled. We won the field position game, and our defense played very well after turnovers. Our ability to run the ball gave us the chance to compete with those guys at the level needed.
With us (Stout and Eau Claire) being only 22 miles apart, there is no possiblity of a letdown this week. We need to play well defensively and we must put some points on the board. This is the 'War for (Interstate) 94.
Eau Claire is a very good offensive team. They are capable of running as well as throwing. They have good players in (Sean) Hoolihan, (Chad) Hoiska and (Dan) McCarty. They will score against anybody. Hoolihan is the guy. He is an excellent athlete and huge part of their offense. His perimeter abilities open up their entire game. We will need to concentrate on knocking him around with our rush. This will be a battle of both teams intending to win.

RADIO: WMEQ-AM, 880 radio, Menomonie, Jake Bostrom, Jay Fahl, Chuck Morning

September 27, 1997

STOUT DOWNS EAGLES ON GRIDIRON, 28-21, IN OVERTIME

LA CROSSE - As UW-Stout football coach Ed Meierkort was preparing to play UW-La Crosse last week, he commented that he thought his team matched up pretty well with the national ranked Eagles.

On Saturday, Sept. 27, Meierkort let his team do the talking and the Blue Devils took a 28-21 overtime win over La Crosse at Veterans Memorial Stadium, only the fourth loss for the Eagles at home during the 1990s.

Shawn Lund's (So, Ashland) four yard reception from Matt Bunyan (Jr, Janesville) and Pete Spiegel's (Sr, West Bend) two-point reception tied the game at 21-21 with 1:54 remaining.

But it was the Stout defense - and La Crosse's tendency to shoot themselves in the foot in overtime - that would lead to the Blue Devils' win.

Still in regulation, La Crosse had one last opportunity to pull out the last minute win. The Eagles managed to drive to Blue Devil 28, then quarterback Jeff Baker hit Ryan Shaver out of the backfield, who took the ball down to the 3-yard line before Billy Busch (So, Dickeyville) forced a fumble, which Stout recovered in the end zone as time ran out.

The Blue Devils received the ball first in overtime, beginning on the La Crosse 25. Following an incomplete pass, Lund ran to the 20, then left the game with a rib injury.

From then on, it was the Ryan Patt (So, North Fond du Lac) show. Patt, a fullback who would finish the day with 109 yards, bulled nine yards on a third down play, then ran five yards to the La Crosse before carrying the ball the final six yards for the go ahead score. Nolan Mosher (So, Janesville) added the extra point and Stout led, 28-21.

Now it was LaCrosse's turn, starting at the Stout 25. Twice, the Eagles made a first down, but both times were turned back due to penalties. The Blue Devils harassed Baker all afternoon, overtime was no exception, when Andy Wickstrom (Sr, Menomonie) and Jeff Apse (Jr, Oakdale, Minn) sacked Baker for five yards.

After an Eagle delay of game, Baker had one more chance on fourth down, and tossed a pass out towards John Barrett, but the ball was knocked away by Stout's Corey Morning (Jr, Bloomer) and Stout had their first win over La Crosse since 1987 and only their eighth win ever against La Crosse.

"We pressured their quarterback, and that may have been the difference," Meierkort said. "We had a lot of (passes) knocked down, a lot of tackles-for-losses (nine). Our front played really well.

"Our ability to run the ball gave us the chance to compete with those guys at the level we needed to. A lot of teams play them even (until the end of the game), but the can eke it out."

Stout not only won the game, but were in control for much of the game, especially the clock., where the Blue Devils held the ball for 38 minutes, while La Crosse had it for 22 minutes.

"That was a key to this game," Meierkort said. "I think we fatigued them defensively. We kept their offense off the field."

Stout held a 430 to 377 edge in total yards. The Blue Devils had 208 yards rushing, to La Crosse's 148. Bunyan passed for 226 yards, while Baker passed for 258, much of it coming on two long plays.

The game didn't start out so well for Stout, with the Eagles scoring only two minutes and three plays into the game when Beau Coulter scored on a 26-yard jaunt.

But Stout struck back in the first quarter with two scores. Bunyan connected with Scott Wojcik (Sr, Marshfield) for a 25-yard touchdown pass at the 8:18 mark, then found Jim Pillars (So, Chicago) for a 23-yard scoring strike at 1:12.

"It was good see that our team didn't fold the tent," Meierkort said. "La Crosse scored so fast - virtually unmolested into our end zone. Then we came back and scored, intercepted them (Joe Verstegen, So, Little Chute), and scored again. We felt we were in the game."

La Crosse took a 14-13 lead when Baker connected with Jeremy Earp for a 41-yard touchdown play.

The Blue Devils' first drive in the third quarter may have told the Eagles they were in for serious trouble. Bunyan commanded a six-minute, 13-play, 79-yard drive that ended in an interception, but Stout showed they were capable of moving the ball.

La Crosse scored once more, a six yard run by Baker early in the fourth quarter. Stout proceeded to move the ball to the LaCrosse 30, but ran out of downs. Four plays later, Wickstrom sacked Baker and forced a fumble recovered by Ehrich Shaw (Jr, Menomonie). From there, Stout knotted the game, and the rest became history.

Stout will play at UW-Eau Claire, Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. for the Blugolds' homecoming.

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Blue Devil Volleyball

September 27, 1997

BLUE DEVIL VOLLEYBALL TEAM FINISHES FIFTH AT EAU CLAIRE INVITE;
JENNY KRACZEK MATCHES RECORD FOR ASSISTS IN SINGLE MATCH

MENOMONIE - What a difference a good night's sleep made for the UW-Stout volleyball team as the Blue Devils finished fifth at the Lisa Siegenthaler Memorial Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Eau Claire, Saturday, Sept. 27.

The Blue Devils dropped both matches Friday night, but rebounded to win the final two matches Saturday.

Katy Haas (RsFr, Sparta), filling in for the injured Tori Feit (So, Rushmore, Minn.) played a solid tournament, coach Jill Jolliff said. Haas, who has played in most matches throughout the season, but was making her first start, finished the tournament with 28 kills for a 1.9 kill/game average. Defensively, she had two solo blocks and four assisted blockes.

Stout dropped their first match Friday, 7-15, 15-3, 15-6, 15-7, to UW-River Falls, then failed to bounce back, falling 15-10, 17-15, 13-15, 15-12, to Northland College.

Saturday looked to be a repeat of Friday, as Stout dropped the first game, 15-13, to Augsburg, a team Stout had beaten in three straight games to open the season. But this time the Blue Devils rallied, winning 15-11, 15-11, 17-15, to earn their way into the fifth place bracket.

Against Augsburg, Jenny Kraczek (So, Blaine, Minn) tied a school record for most assists in a match with 63, tying a 1994 mark by Heather Ketola.

The Blue Devils had very little trouble with St. Catherine's, winning 15-9, 15-5, 15-2.

With the two wins, Stout improves their record to 10-6, two more wins than all of last year.

Stacy Stoddard (Jr, St. Paul, Minn) and Monica Cyrus (Jr, Farmington, Minn) were both named to the all-tournament team. Stoddard, the Blue Devils leading hitter, recorded 74kills, five solo blocks and 11 block assists. Cyrus finished with 57 kills and 55 digs.

Stout begins a three-game homestand Wednesday, hosting UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m. UW-Whitewater is in Menomonie Friday, Oct. 3 and UW-Stevens Point invades Johnson Fieldhouse Saturday, Oct. 4.

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Blue Devil Soccer

September 28, 1997

STOUT SOCCER FALLS TO ST. OLAF

MENOMONIE - The UW-Stout soccer team recorded their third loss of the season as they fell to St. Olaf 2-0 Sunday, Sept. 28, at Phelan Park.

Three minutes into the game St. Olaf's Jackie Gaston stepped to the line for a penalty kick after Stout's goaltender Nikki Bezak (So, Coon Rapids, Minn.) was called for charging in the box. With three minutes remaining in the half, the Oles' Kate Troy scored on a shot from inside the box.

Bezak left the game late in the first half with a leg injury.

The second half went scoreless. The Oles outshot the Blue Devils 17-16.

Stout (6-3, 1-2) is just one win away from matching their total number of wins from last season.

Stout takes to the road again Wednesday, Oct. 1 to face UW-River Falls.

September 25, 1997

STOUT SOCCER RECORDS ANOTHER VICTORY

MENOMONIE - It was a beautiful, autumn day for soccer and an even better day for the UW-Stout soccer team as they downed Hamline University, 3-0, Thursday, Sept. 25 at Phelan Park.

Alyssa Halverson (Jr, Rochester, Minn.) opened the game with a goal off a Hamline free kick and the Blue Devils (6-2) went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

Jessica Unterweger (So, Nashotah) opened the second half with a goal off a tip from Halverson. Unterweger scored again later in the half off a pass from Carrie Kennedy (So, Watertown).

Goaltender Nikki Bezak (So, Coon Rapids, Minn.) recorded her third shutout of the season. Stout outshot Hamline 33-18.

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Blue Devil Men's Cross Country

September 26, 1997

BLUE DEVIL MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PLACES SEVENTH AT AUGUSTANA

ROCK ISLAND, Ill - Paul Gilles ( Sr, Plum City) lead the UW-Stout cross country team to a seventh place finish, finishing 23rd with a time of 26:15 at the 18-team Augustana Invitational Friday, Sept 26, in Rock Island, Ill.

Teammate Jason Petersohn (Sr, Manitowoc) was close behind finishing 26th at 26:18 and Tim Hamill (Jr. Brookfield) finishing 30th at 26:25. Ryan Hill (Jr, Chetek) ran a personal best 27:00, placing 70th. There were 295 competitors in the race.

Elsewhere, Josh Webb (Fr, Chippewa Falls) placed ninth at the Carleton JV Invitational in Northfield, Minn, Friday.

The Blue Devils are off until Oct. 10 where they will be competing at the Eau Claire Invitational in Colfax.

Augustana Invitational Team Results
1. North Central College 38; 2. UW-Oshkosh 53; 3. Washington University 75; 4. Loras 135; 5. Grinnel 155; 6. Augustana 168; 7. UW-Stout 190; 8. Graceland 263; 9. Central 289; 10. Monmouth 300; 11. Elmhurst 322; 12. UW-Platteville 323; 13. Illinois Wesleyan 344; 14. Coe College 370; 15. Knox 419; 16. St. Ambrose 467; 17. Cornell 492, 18. Mt. St. Clare 535; Illinois College INC
Augustana Individual Results (First place and all Stout finishers)
1. Tony Rizzo (North Central College) 25:24; 23. Paul Gilles 26:15; 26. Jason Petersohn 26:18; 32. Tim Hamill 26:25, 70. Ryan Hill 27:00; 77. Mike Schumann 27:05; 95. Eric Hanson 27: 21; 99. Josh Johnson 27:22; 106. Chris Hill 27:30
Carleton JV Invitational (No team scores kept)
Carleton JV Individual Results (First place and all Stout finishers)
1. Steve Henderson (St. Thomas) 26:57.4; 9. Josh Webb 28:00.1; 19. Bryan Ott 28:13.8; 22. Jamie Block 28:17.7; 23. Ethan Webenger 28:21.9; 31. Brad Chartrand 28:39.8; 33. Chris Stevens 28:42.5; 47. Todd Johnson 29:02.5; 52. Seth Kaste 29:07.9; 62. Jason Donovan 29:32.8; 102. Jeff Gross 31:46.5; 103. Troy Handy 21:46.8; 108. Chris Heinbuch 33:11.4; 111. Kevin Butler 33:31.7.

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Blue Devil Women's Cross Country

September 27, 1997

BLUE DEVIL WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PLACE 14TH AT THE U OF M

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn - Katy Olsen (Jr, Rice Lake) lead the UW-Stout women's cross country team to a 14th place finish, placing sixth with a time of 18:45 at the 42-team University of Minnesota Griak Invitational Saturday, Sept 27 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Teammate Katie Jacobson (Jr, Eau Claire) placed 19th with a time of 19:01 and Nicole Ernster (Jr, Rochester, Minn) finished 89th at 19:58.

The Blue Devils are off until Friday, Oct. 10 when they will be competing at the Eau Claire Invitational in Colfax.

Univ. of Minn. Team Results
1. North Dakota State U 97; 2. St. Thomas 163; 3. UW LaCrosse 198; 4. St. Olaf 209; 5. UW Eau Claire 245; 6. Wartburg 271; 7. Pittsburg State 287; 8. Carleton 301; 9. North Dakota 310; 10. Mankato State 325; 11. South Dakota 359; 12. U Minnesota Duluth 366; 13. Luther 369; 14. UW-Stout 380; 15. Gustavus 388; 16. South Dakota State 415; 17. Macalester 519; 18. Augustana (SD) 521; 19. Bethel 526 20. UW Stevens Point 536; 21. St. Mary's 565; 22. St. Cloud 572; 23. Central Missouri 586; 24. Dana College 594; 25. Manitoba 629; 26. Concordia 666 (St. Paul); 27. Concordia (Moorhead); 28. St. Scholastica 761; 29. Northern State 795; 30. Hastings 801; 31. Hamline 821; 32. Northwestern 900; 33. Augsburg 928; 34. Winona 934; 35. Bemidji State 935; 36. Moorhead 962; 37. Ottawa 993; 38. UW River Falls 1027; 39. Lake Superior State 1041; 40. Minnesota Morris 1244
Univ. of Minn. Individual Results
(First place and all Stout finishers)
1. Sarah Anderson (Superior) 18:07.1; 6. Katy Olsen 18:45.0; 19. Katie Jacobson 19:01.2; 89. Nicole Ernster 19:58.4; 130. Jen Wucherer 20:14.5; 173. Jennifer Bahr 20:40. 5; 195. Dana Piper 20:49.9; 226. Robin White 21:09.3; 240. Melissa Schreiner 21:19.9; 254. Joylyn Jans 21:27.0; 268. Katie Kuffel 21:36.5; 342. Jessica Schultz 22:42.8; 365. Kelly Knaus 23:01.5; 366. Coryn Delaney 23:03.2; 378. Heather Kuchinka 23:28.7

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Blue Devil Tennis

September 22, 1997

MADER CONTINUES TO BE UNBEATEN AT SINGLES

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Lauren Mader (So, Neenah) rebounded from a 6-1 first set loss to down Becca Robertson, 6-0, 6-1, in the final two sets to stay unbeaten at No. 2 singles as the UW-Stout (4-1, 1-0) tennis team defeated Bethel College, 6-3, in a marathon match Monday, Sept. 22 at Bethel.

Carrie Kish (Sr, Anoka, Minn) and Jessica Pfeiffer (Sr, Woodbury, Minn) both needed to bounce back from single set losses to win.

Kish defeated Kate Link, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 3 singles, while Pfeiffer had the longest match of the night, winning at No. 5 over Lisa Beckermann, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5.

Shannon Seppala (So, Maplewood, Minn) had few problems at No. 6, downing Sarah Strand, 6-3, 6-3. Amy Jamieson (Sr, Dayton, Minn) suffered her first singles loss of the season, falling to Amy Studdiford, 6-3, 6-0, at No. 1.

Mader and Jamieson won at No. 1 doubles and Seppela and Ann Jackson (So, Eau Claire) won at No. 3 doubles.

Mader was named the WIAC player of the week for the week of Sept. 15-22.

UW-Stout 6, Bethel College 3
Singles: No. 1: Amy Studdiford (B) def. Amy Jamieson, 6-3, 6-0; No. 2:Lauren Mader (S) def. Becca Robertson, 1-6, 6-0, 6-1; No. 3: Carrie Kish (S) def. Kate Link, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; No. 4: Christina Busman (B) def. Ann Jackson, 6-2, 6-2; No. 5: Jessica Pfeiffer (S) def. Lisa Beckermann, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5; No. 6: Shannon Seppala (S) def. Sarah Strand, 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles: No. 1: Mader/Jamieson (S) def. Studdiford/Robertson, 8-5; No. 2: Link/Busman (B) def. Kish/Pfeiffer, 8-5; No. 3: Seppala/Jackson (S) def. Beckermann/Strand, 9-7.