The UW-Platteville women’s soccer team looked to continue their hot start last week with a pair of nonconference games and one conference game against UW-Superior. The season up to this point has been a success on and off the field.

The Pioneers came into the week’s games at 4-2-1, and their first challenge was in Dubuque, Iowa. Despite outshooting the University of Dubuque, the Pioneer women were shut out 2-0 behind goalkeeper Natalie Baker who made seven saves for the Spartans.

Despite the outcome in Dubuque, UW-P had the opportunity to make up for the loss a couple days later at home in a WIAC game against UW-Superior. They also had the opportunity to get another win in conference play where they are expecting to do better this season.

“We want to improve our record overall but we also want to finish higher in our conference this season,” head soccer coach Enzo Fuschino said.

The focus on conference games paid off on Sept. 27 when they beat UW-Superior
5-0.

After 60 minutes of scoreless play between the two teams, the floodgates opened for the Pioneers. Junior defender Kim Schneckloth, who won the defensive player of the week for the WIAC two weeks prior, showed off her offensive skills with a goal from 15 yards out to begin the scoring. Sophomore midfielder Sarah Miller would be the next to score, getting a pass from sophomore midfielder Meghan McGivern to make it 2-0. A few minutes later, sophomore midfielder Jackie Baumgart scored. Junior forward Allie Metcalf also decided to get in on the action in the 80th minute with not one, but two goals to make it a 5-0 victory. The Pioneers improved their conference record to 2-2, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 0-3 in the WIAC.

The next day, the women went to Galesburg, Ill. to play an out of conference game against Knox College. The women pulled out another five goals for the second game in a row to beat Knox 5-1. The Pioneers boast a 6-3-1 record.

Win or lose this season the team is certainly improved from last year and are having much more fun on the field thanks to coach Fuschino.

“Enzo is an awesome coach and playing for him is great,” Schneckloth said. “He’s got a lot of experience and knowledge about the game, and the season can only get better from here.”

The Pioneers host their Homecoming game against Luther College at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.