Pioneer athletics in full swing with fall athletics beginning

Platteville, Wis.- The 2022-23 athletic year has started, and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's volleyball and women's soccer teams enjoyed great success to open the season. The Pioneer volleyball team went 4-0 in the first invitational of the year, winning 12 of the 13 matches, and the women's soccer team tallied six goals while allowing only one in two victories.

Volleyball begins season 4-0, five contests on schedule this week

The Pioneer volleyball team swept three of the four matches they played at the Macalester Invite in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Pioneers swept Nebraska Wesleyan, host Macalester and Hamline before dropping a set to Carleton in the final match of the invitational.

Sophomore Emma Carlson led the Pioneers on offense. Carlson totaled 53 kills (4.08/set) with a .237 hitting percentage. Carlson had 15 kills (.216 hitting percentage), two service aces and 14 digs in a win over Nebraska Wesleyan University. Carlson had 12 kills and hit .143 in a sweep of host Macalester. In a win over Hamline University, Carlson hit .435 with 11 kills and two service aces. Carlson finished the invitational with 15 kills (.243 hitting percentage), two service aces and 10 digs in a win over Carleton College. 

Freshman Bri Gartner led the Pioneers on defense. Gartner totaled 61 digs (4.69/set) to lead the Pioneers' defense. Gartner had 18 digs in a win over Nebraska Wesleyan University and followed up with 15 digs in a win over host Macalester College. In a win over Hamline University, Gartner had 14 digs and two service aces. Gartner finished the week with 14 digs and five service aces in a win over Carleton College. 

The Pioneers will look to extend the winning streak on Tuesday, Sept. 6 when they travel to Beloit College for a 7 p.m. match. The Buccaneers enter the contest with a 1-3 record. As a team, the Buccaneers average 7.9 kills per set with a .102 hitting percentage. Opponents are hitting .200 against the Buccaneers. 

Following the trip to Beloit, the Pioneers will head to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the Coe Invitational. In the opening match on Friday, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m., it will be the battle of the Pioneers. The UW-Platteville Pioneers will face the Carroll University Pioneers. Carroll University enters the week with a 3-1 record. 

The Pioneers will close out the first day of the invitational with host Coe College at 7 p.m. The Kohawks enter the week with a 2-1 record and face Cornell College and Saint Olaf College before facing the Pioneers.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, the Pioneers begin at 9 a.m. with a match against Saint Olaf College. The Oles enter with week with a 3-1 record. The Pioneers will finish off the Coe Invitational with Buena Vista at 1 p.m. The Beavers enter the week with a 3-1 record.

Samantha Birkicht is in her sixth year at UW-Platteville with a career record of 57-67. 

Women's soccer scores six goals in two wins, prepares for three games this week

UW-Platteville women's soccer team opened the 2022 season with a pair of comfortable wins. The Pioneers defeated Edgewood College 3-1 and Northwestern (Minnesota) 3-0. 

Senior Emma Willard opened the scoring when she netted a free kick in the 14th minute. Sophomore Loren Lodico scored off a corner kick from freshman Jenna Gravitt about a minute later to make it 2-0. Sophomore Lydia Smith pushed the lead to three in the 62nd minute. The Eagles spoiled the shut out for senior Emma Ball in the 71st minute. Ball stopped seven of the eight shots on goal for the Pioneers. 

Ball and the Pioneers were able to get the shut out at Northwestern on Sept. 3. Ball stopped all five shots on goal. Lodico opened the scoring with her second goal of the year and sophomore Alyssa Peterson pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 31st minute. Peterson struck again in the 53rd minute for the final score of the night.

The Pioneer soccer team will travel to Carroll University for another battle of the Pioneers on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. Carroll University is 1-0 after a 5-0 victory over Bryant & Stratton College on Sept. 1.

Following the battle of Pioneers, UW-Platteville will travel to North Park University on Thursday, Sept. 8 to face North Park at 7 p.m. The Vikings enter the week 1-0-1.

The first home match of the year for the Pioneers is Sunday, Sept. 11 at 3 p.m. when Coe College visits Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. The Kohawks enter the week with a 0-2 record.

Sam Koenig is in his second season as head coach with a career record of 11-6-3.

Pioneer golfers finish fifth at Augustana Highland Classic, have week off

The Pioneer women's golf team started the fall portion of the 2022-23 schedule with a fifth-place finish at the Augustana Highland Classic in Rock Island, Illinois. Senior Markie Ash led the Pioneers with a sixth-place finish. Sophomore Josie Alm (80), sophomore Jada Chang (83), Sophomore Emma Cage (90) and sophomore Nicole Sedam (93) all shot career-bests. 

The Pioneers will have the week off before they head to the Loras College Fall Invite. The first round is Sunday, Sept. 18 at Woodbine Golf Course in Stockton, Illinois. Round two will take place at the Meadows Golf Course in Asbury, Iowa on Monday, Sept. 19.

Football drops opener to Division II Michigan Tech, hosts Bethel to start 50th year anniversary of Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium

The Pioneers opened the 2022 season at Houghton, Michigan against NCAA Division II Michigan Tech University. The Pioneers and Huskies engaged in a defensive battle in the first half. The Huskies punched it in from the three-yard line to take a 7-0 halftime lead. The Huskies would capitalize off a special team's error for a safety early in the second half and scored on a 31-yard pass to make it 16-0. The Pioneers got on the board with 6:43 left on a Nathan Shackelford nine-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Petersen. The Huskies pushed the lead back to 16 late in the third. Shackelford threw his second touchdown pass with 1:40 left in the game, finding Brandt Stare from eight yards out. The two-point conversion failed, keeping the score 23-13. The Pioneers recovered the on-side kick but didn't convert at the end. 

A much-improved defense from 2021 held the Huskies to 213 total yards and held the Huskies to 27% on third-down (4-of-15). 

The Pioneers (0-1, 0-0 WIAC) will continue with non-conference play when Bethel College (1-0, 0-0 MIAC) visits Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10 for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Royals enter as d3football.com #11 ranked team. The Royals defeated Pacific Lutheran 41-9 to open the season. 

The Pioneers will be celebrating 50 years in the "Ralph." Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium opened on Sept. 9, 1972. 

Ryan Munz is in his first year as head coach of the Pioneer football team.

Men's soccer drops pair of games, prepare for home opener

The Pioneer men's soccer team dropped a pair of matches to open the season. The Pioneers dropped the opener to the Milwaukee School of Engineering 3-1. Two minutes into his first college contest, Alister Dawson found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead for the Pioneers. The Raiders would answer in the 18th and 36th minute to take a 2-0 lead into the break. The Raiders added one more goal in the 71st minute. 

The Pioneers traveled to UW-Eau Claire on Sept. 3 for a battle with the Blugolds. Neither team could find the back of the net early as the Pioneers and Blugolds played to a 0-0 score most of the first half. The Blugolds picked up the first goal in the 33rd minute and doubled the lead in the 63rd minute. The Pioneers were unable to cut into the lead and dropped the contest 2-0.

The Pioneers will be back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 6 when they travel to Waukesha, Wisconsin for a battle with the Carroll University Pioneers at 7:30 p.m. Carroll University enters the contest with a 1-1 record.

The Pioneers will open the home schedule when St. John's University visits Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. The Jonnies enter the week with a 2-0-1 record.

Sam Koenig is in his fourth year as head coach of the Pioneer men's soccer team with a career record of 21-15-5.

Cross country to host alumni meet

The final Pioneer fall varsity team to get started will be the men's and women's cross country teams. The Pioneers will host their annual alumni meet at UW-Platteville Memorial Park on Saturday, Sept. 10. The women's race will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the men's will follow at 10:05 a.m.

To follow the Pioneers all season, visit www.Letsgopioneers.com for links for live stats, postgame recaps and links for the contests that are live streamed. Follow the official social media accounts of Pioneer Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.