EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - The UW-Eau Claire women's soccer team bounced back from its tough loss to Stevens Point last Saturday with a 2-0 victory over I-94 rival UW-Stout at the Bollinger Fields today.

The Blugolds, ranked 22nd in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of American poll, improve to 13-1-2 overall and 5-1-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Stout drops to 3-2-2 in the WIAC and 5-7-3 overall. Stevens Point handed the Blue Devils their other conference loss this season.

Rachel Nerison (Fr.-Maple Grove, Minn.) picked up the Blugolds' first goal of the contest, scoring at 70:03. The goal is her ninth overall of the season and her second game-winning goal of the year. Abby Meitzen (Fr.-Middleton, Wis.) recorded her first assist of the season on the goal.

The Blugolds scored their other goal with 20 seconds remaining in the contest. Amy Smith (Sr.-Bloomington, Minn./Thomas Jefferson) scored her 14th goal of the season. Liz Kooistra (Sr.-Lakeville, Minn.) assisted on the goal.

Eau Claire finished the game with 21 shots, 10 of which were on-goal. Stout ended with two shots-on-goal. The Blue Devils' Taylor Randle was in the net the entire contest and tallied eight saves. Eau Claire's Allie Rivard (Sr.- Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) recorded her sixth shutout of the season and picked up two saves. Eau Claire also edged Stout 8-1 in corner kicks.

The Blugolds have now won three straight contests against the Blue Devils and improve to an all-time series record of 14-2-2. The last time Stout defeated Eau Claire was in 2004.

Up next the Blugolds will compete in their final home game of the regular season. The action begins at 2 p.m. this Saturday against UW-Oshkosh.

Eau Claire-Stout Box Score

- KM -