September 6, 2015 By Josh Sinclair

Last season the women’s Warhawks soccer team was picked to win their fifth conference title in a row by the WIAC coaches and sports information directors. This season is no different.

The Warhawks are the favorites again to come home with the WIAC title. Returning seven starters from last season gives rise to high expectations for this season, but the ’Hawks have high standards for themselves.

“Our standard every season is to win the WIAC,” head coach Ryan Quamme said. “That way we can host a postseason tournament and make the NCAA tournament.”

Three-time WIAC Coach of the Year Ryan Quamme returns for his third season at the helm of the program.

After a school record of 18 wins last season, 15 of which were in a row, the women look to build on a strong regular season and convert that into postseason success.

“Losing to Oshkosh last year in the tournament is definitely one that got away from us,” midfielder Jenna Woodson said. “Ultimately, our goal is to win the National Championship but first we need to focus on the steps we need to complete before it in order to put ourselves in the position to win it.”

UW-Whitewater finished last season ranked 23rd in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and was ranked 20th this preseason. Whitewater will have some work to do as the team loses an All-American defender, Sarah Sedlar and All-Region goalkeeper Jordan Myers.

“We are not going to be able to replace the production and leadership we lost on the back end with just one player, it will be a team effort,” Quamme said. “We will have to have contributions from multiple players to fulfill those roles.”

Myers, a three time All-WIAC selection, was second in the WIAC in goals against per game only giving up 0.67 goals a game. Her replacement this season will be freshman Erin Doody.

“[Erin] played a high level of club soccer and had a great camp and preaseason,” Quamme said. “We are excited to see what she can do in goal this year for us. She will have help because the defense, actually all 11 players in front of her have experience.”

Defensively, the Warhawks return three starters to a defense that allowed 0.64 goals per game, the lowest in school history, but will lose Sedlar from the defense.

Sedlar will be replaced a combination of players including sophomores Mackenzie Serbousek, Kara Jahn and Nicole Lorenz.

Woodson returns to lead a young, but experienced midfield. Sophomores Marie Lesperance and Jordan Jackson and junior Carly Pottle all comeback to anchor the middle.

“I think one thing that’s helped me find my teammates so effectively is that I have played multiple positions during my career in Whitewater,” Woodson said. “My freshmen year I was more of a goal scorer so when it came to the last two years I know what runs the goal scorers are making and where I should slot the ball to.”

The midfielders filled up the stat sheet last year, scoring more points than every other player except All-Region forward Brianna Reid.

Reid was the conference’s leading scorer last season with 14 goals and she returns this year for her junior campaign after being named the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year last season.

“I’m entering my eighth season, and I think this is probably the deepest team that we have had,” said Quamme. “There is talent at every position, and we can replace the talent we lost.”

The Warhawks play their first five games out of state before returning for a matchup against North Park 7 p.m. on Sept. 9.