The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s women’s soccer team played a pre-season game April 26 against Clarke College. The game ended in a 0-0 tie, but the UW-P women were able to experience playing against their first scheduled opponent for the fall season.

Head coach Enzo Fuschino was back on the sideline for the game after missing all of last season because of a heart attack.

“It was great to be back on the field,” Fuschino said “I am doing what I like the most. We played a tough opponent Monday and it was nice to see the hard work the team put in this spring.”

“The game was a fun way to test new things and see what the spring training brought us,” Karen Bublitz, sophomore pre-vet major said.
Freshman elementary education major, Ashley Alonso, talked about the new formations they tried out in their practices for the scrimmage.
“It is called a ‘flat four’ which means the team plays with four defenders instead of three like we did last season.”

Alonso was pretty happy with how the pre-season game went, and looks forward to the fall.

“We started off a little unsteady, because it was the first time we played together since the fall season, but we passed well together and focused on our communication on the field.”

Megan McGivern, a junior majoring in chemistry, talked about all the practice and conditioning the team has done this spring.
“For the first eight weeks we were up and practicing every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 a.m. then it shifted to Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the afternoons. The game ended the practices for the spring, but we do have a recommended summer workout plan. Most of us play on summer leagues, too,” said McGivern.

Alonso had to adjust at first to her first spring season with the women’s soccer team.

“The practices were a little nerve-wracking at first, because I didn’t know what to expect as a freshman. Getting up in the mornings became a routine, and then we moved outside and started on our defensive switch. Now I’m looking forward to next year.”

Coach Fuschino mentioned his own goal for next season, to finish with a better record.

“Every year we close the gap with other teams in our conference. We hope to finish above .500 next year and to make the conference tournament. About 20 girls turned out this spring and were very enthusiastic. The purpose of spring training is to try new things and cement team unity for the next season. I am confident they will work hard this summer and be back in mid-August ready to play.”