The UW-Whitewater women’s soccer team looks forward to playing UW-Stevens Point on Saturday and Head Coach Greg Henschel said the team is feeling confident.

“We have worked hard and we continue to get better each day,” Henschel said. “I am sure that all of our remaining matches will be just as competitive as the matches we have played earlier this season.”

Last season the Pointers were the only loss for the `Hawks. In the WIAC Championship match last year, the women were missing a few good starters and still played well to finish up last season. Henschel said he is proud of everything the team accomplished.

“Point is always a match for us but I think we have put that loss behind us from last year and are focusing on this year and what we can accomplish,” senior forward Emily Gerber said. “Every conference game will be a struggle this year so each game needs to be approached in the same way.”

According to Henschel, the team has improved their depth and returned much of their starting line up from last season and are confident in the upcoming match.

“I feel that we are capable of beating anyone,” Gerber said. “Yes, this game will be tough but every game this year has been.”

Gerber feels if the team approaches the game against the Pointers like every other game they have played this season, then they will have a good chance to win.

“We don’t need to do anything different than we have this season,” Henschel said. “We plan to work hard prior to and during this match just as we have all season.”

Henschel said the conference title is in the spotlight for the women and they are striving to obtain it.

“I believe we are in control of our WIAC destiny this season and we need to simply focus on the next game,” Henschel said.

“Although it might appear that a couple of teams are ahead of us in the current standings some teams have played more games and other teams have some very difficult matches ahead of them. We also have some tough matches ahe

ad of us but I think we are as prepared as ever to finish our season strong.”

Looking ahead the team continues to improve on all aspects of the game: finishing, defending and possession.

“The team has been working on competing for 50/50 balls and getting to the second ball,” Gerber said. “We have worked on our defensive pressure as a team which I feel really paid off in our last game against Augustana.”