Blugolds youngsters making difference

The UW-Eau Claire women's soccer team has the potential to do some damage in the NCAA Division III tournament this season. But no matter what the Blugolds do in the coming weeks, they look like they're building a solid foundation for next year and beyond, to say the least.

Of the five players that scored in the Blugolds' 5-1 victory over UW-La Crosse in the semifinals of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament Friday morning at Bollinger Fields, three were freshmen -- Gina Christenbury, Jamie Schiesel and Liz Hunter. Freshmen Haelee Maurer, Christine Schounard, Kelsey Figg, Megan Hillesheim, Andrea Hull, Ashley McEachern and Ali Mater also saw time Friday.

Only four of 27 players on the Blugolds roster -- goalie Liz Weirick, forward Jana Huebner and defenders Abby Ofstedahl and Anna Talbot -- are seniors in terms of eligibilty.

That's bad news for the rest of the WIAC.

-Justin Harings