Renee Rosenow

On Saturday, Oct. 11, the UW-Eau Claire women’s soccer team hosted UW-Stevens Point. The No. 22 ranked Pointers entered the game with a 10-2 record overall. The Blugolds, ranked No. 3 in the nation, entered the game with a 12-0-2 record.

“Our main goal (against Stevens Point) was to host the conference tournament,” senior Allie Rivard said.

A win against Stevens Point would have put the Blugolds into first place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and allowed them the right to host the conference tournament.

Historically, the Blugolds have not fared well against Stevens Point. In 34 previous games the Blugolds had only beaten the Pointers six times, tied four times and lost 24 times. Eau Claire has managed to turn the tides slightly in recent years. The last time the Blugolds lost to the Pointers was nearly four years ago — Oct. 16, 2004. The Pointers, however, left Bollinger Fields on Saturday victoriously.

“We were playing a little bit scared,” senior Amy Smith said. “We need to always respect our opponents, but not give them too much credit.”

In the first half, Rivard saved the only shot the Pointers were able to put on goal. The Blugolds managed to take three shots, two on goal, but none found the back of the net. Both teams played even in the first half, with neither team dominating on either end.

In the middle of the second half, the Blugolds put five of their nine shots on net. The closest the Blugolds came to scoring was when a shot ricocheted off the crossbar right after intermission.

“We got off to a really good start to our season,” Smith said. “(The loss) does take a little bit of pressure off and it helps us realize that anything can happen.”

The Pointers scored first. It came in the second half, with only 13:36 remaining in the game. The goal turned out to be the game winner as neither team scored another goal after that. The game marked the first loss for the Blugolds since Nov. 10, 2007.

“We weren’t really thinking about going undefeated,” Rivard said. “It’s better that our loss didn’t come in November.”

The Blugolds will remain home on Wednesday, Oct. 15, when they take on the UW-Stout Blue Devils. In the WIAC the Blugolds are in second place, while the Blue Devils will enter the game ranked third in the WIAC. Both of the losses for Eau Claire and Stout came against Stevens Point, which is now in first place in the WIAC.

“(The team is going to) comeback and have a strong week of practice,” Rivard said. “We’re going to keep working hard. The girls could be getting tired coming off of five games in nine days, which can be exhausting.”