Football

November 20, 2000

MENOMONIE - All good things must come to an end and UW-Stout's storybook football season closed on a cold, snowy afternoon as the Blue Devils lost a 26-19 decision to St. John's University in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs Saturday, Nov. 18 at Nelson Field.

The Blue Devils turned the ball over four times - three on fumbles - and racked up 98 yards in penalties. Momentum swung back and forth throughout the game.

The Johnnies (10-1) dominated play in the first half of the first quarter, scoring on their first two drives. After Stout coughed the ball up on an interception on their first possession, St. John's quarterback Tom Linneman drove the team 60 yards in eight plays - all passes or attempts - and topped off the drive with a 30-yard connection to Chris Moore. The kick failed and the Johnnies led 6-0.

The Blue Devils (10-1) went three-and-out, then gave up 47 yards on the punt return, then were hit with a facemask penalty to the Stout 28. The Johnnies scored at the 7:01 mark when Linnemann found Aaron Krych for a 10-yard scoring play.

Momentum made a major swing on the point after attempt. Linnemann was intercepted by Abraham Cruz (Fr, Alhambra, Calif) on the pass attempt, and Cruz returned the ball for a 2-point defensive extra point.

Stout took advantage of the momentum swing and drove 74 yards, capping the drive with a six yard run by freshman Luke Bundgaard (Weyerhauser). The extra point by Kevin McCulley (Sr, Fond du Lac) was good and Stout trailed 12-9 with 4:07 remaining in the period.

The Johnnies would make good on their next drive going 80 yards in 10 plays. Linnemann passed for his third touchdown of the quarter, hitting Blake Elliot for a five yard play.

Stout got a McCulley field goal midway through the second quarter to tighten the score to 19-12, but then saw a prime opportunity go by the wayside when they fumbled the ball away at the 1-yard line.

Neither team scored in the third quarter. St. John's took a 26-12 lead with 5:51 left in the game on a two yard run by Chris Moore.

Stout did add some tension back into the game. Quarterback Justin Fjeldstad (Jr, Minneapolis, Minn) drove the team 78 yards in nine plays, hitting Cruz in the end zone from five yards out to move the score to the final 26-19 with 1:38 left.

With all eyes and hands ready for the onside kick, McCulley booted a squibber that was recovered by Stout, but didn't go 10 yards and St. John ran out the clock.

The Blue Devil defense chased Linnemann all afternoon, racking up six sacks, including two-and-a-half by conference player of the year, Jeff Hazuga (Sr, Thorp). Hazuga finished with six tackles for losses of 24 yards, while recording eight tackles. Jamie Spielman (So, Menomonie) had two sacks, Eric Lund (Sr, Ashland) finished with one and Matt Mueller (Fr, Chaska, Minn) had a half sack.

The Blue Devils did put up more yardage, tallying 355 total yards to 273 for the Johnnies. Stout had 183 rushing yards, 128 by Bundgaard, and 172 yards passing. Tight end Brian Johnson (Jr, Hudson) had five catches for 75 yards.

Linnemann completed 18-of-34 passes for 221 yards, with Elliot hauling in seven for 86 yards. Moore had 57 yards in four catches.

The Johnnies advance to the next round of the playoffs and will travel to Pacific Lutheran Saturday, Nov. 25. Pacific Lutheran, the defending national champion, defeated Bethel, 41-13. In the other West Regional game, Central of Iowa defeated St. Norbert, 29-14.

November 16, 2000

MADISON - University of Wisconsin-Stout, the 2000 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Champion, landed seven players on the All-WIAC First Team, while UW-River Falls had six players named to the 28-member squad, which was recently selected by conference coaches.

UW-Stout's Jeff Hazuga (Sr, Thorp) was selected the WIAC Player of the Year, while his coach, Ed Meierkort, was named the George Chryst Coach of the Year. The Blue Devils had 15 total players from their 10-0 team named to the team. Five were named to the second team and two players earned honorable mention honors.

UW-Stout, which won its first conference title since 1965, landed four players on the First Team Defense. The Blue Devil defense ranked first in the WIAC in yards (251.0/g), scoring (15.1), rushing (56.7/g) and turnover margin (2.30/g). The Blue Devils will be making their first-ever NCAA Division III playoff appearance on Saturday, Nov. 18 against St. John's (Minn.).

Leading the tenacious Blue Devil defense is senior defensive lineman Jeff Hazuga, who was named the WIAC Player of the Year. He is the first Blue Devil to win the honor since 1980 when Tom Paulus won the award. Hazuga, a unanimous selection to the First Team, leads the WIAC in tackles for loss (30-144 yards) and sacks (14). He also had three fumble recoveries on the season.

Joining Hazuga on the First Team Defense were Tony Beckham (Jr, Ocala, Fla), Steve Miller (Sr, Lodi) and Eric Lund (Sr, Ashland). Beckham, a senior defensive back, was a unanimous selection and has totaled 39 tackles, 11 pass break-ups and one interception. Miller, a senior linebacker, is second on the team with 74 tackles and has added 11 tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 3.5 sacks. He was an All-WIAC Honorable Mention selection last season. Lund, a senior linebacker, currently has 53 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three interceptions, three pass break-ups, three fumble recoveries and two sacks. He was an All-WIAC Second Team selection the past two seasons.

The Blue Devils placed three players on the First Team Offense. Kevin McCulley (Sr, Fond du Lac) was named to the First Team as kicker and punter. He was a unanimous selection as a kicker. McCulley has averaged 41.8 yards/punt this season, including a school-record 82-yard bomb against UW-River Falls. He is 32-34 on PATs this season and 15-29 on field goals, while averaging 7.2 points/g. McCulley was an All-WIAC First Team selection at kicker and punter last season and was named Football Gazette All-West Region Second Team. Also garnering unanimous selection was senior offensive lineman Jeff Hutter (Sr, Beldenville). He was an All-WIAC Second Team selection last season. Freshman Luke Bundgaard (Weyerhauser) joins his senior teammates on the First Team. Bundgaard, a running back, has averaged 124.2 yards/g rushing this season, while adding 13 touchdowns and 79 receiving yards. Bundgaard set the school rushing record with 1366 yards.

UW-River Falls had four players named to the offensive squad and two players named to the defensive squad. UW-La Crosse, which recorded a winning season for the 30th time in the last 31 years, landed five players on the First Team. UW-Whitewater, which posted its 13th non-losing season in 15 years, placed three players on the First Team.

Blue Devils named to the second team include, on offense, offensive lineman Derek Branch (Sr, New Brighton, Minn), and fullback Eric Baker (Jr, Sarona). Second team defensive members include, linebackers Chad Reichelt (Sr, Appleton) and Jamie Spielman (So, Menomonie), and defensive back Eric Moe (So, Hixton).

Offensive players named to the honorable mention squad include tight end Brian Johnson (Jr, Hudson) and offensive lineman Jerry Bennington (Sr, Marshfield).

Branch and Baker played big parts in springing Bundgaard during his record-setting season. Baker was the Blue Devils' second leading rusher, gaining 353 yards on 70 carries.

Spielman and Reichelt complete one of the top linebacking corps in the country. Spielman was the team's leading tackler, racking up 82 total tackles, 37 solo and 23 for losses of 75 yards. Spielman also recorded five sacks. Spielman was a second team all-WIAC pick last year. Reichelt is the unsung linebacker for the Blue Devils. Many times playing on the line, Reichelt recorded 53 tackles, 21 solo and 15 tackles for losses of 83 yards. His 6.5 sacks is second only to Hazuga.

Moe led the team, and was second in the league, in interceptions with seven, returning one for a touchdown. He was second on the team in pass break-ups with 10.

Johnson made the switch from defense to tight end, and came up big especially in the last half of the season. Johnson had 19 catches for 225 yards and four TDs. Bennington was a three-year starter who received the Burger King/Warren Bowlus Academic Award this season.

UW-Stout Head Coach Ed Meierkort was selected the 2000 George Chryst Coach of the Year by his peers. The honor marks the first time in the 20-year history of the award that a UW-Stout football coach has been given the top coaching honor in the conference. Meierkort is in his eighth season as head coach for the Blue Devils and has a 36-45 record. Meierkort and his staff engineered a turnaround from a 2-8 overall record in 1999 and defied all preseason picks where the Blue Devils were generally chosen chosen to finish seventh or eighth in the eight team conference. The award is named after the late George Chryst who coached at UW-Platteville from 1979-92.

Men's Cross Country

November 18, 2000

Huber finished in a time of 26-minutes, 13.0-seconds, in a field of 215 runners. The time was his second best of the season.

Calvin College took the top team award, with Keene State second. UW-Oshkosh was third.

Men's Ice Hockey

November 18, 2000

MENOMONIE - Scoring came in streaks, but unfortunately for the UW-Stout hockey team, they weren't streaky enough as the Blue Devils lost to St. Mary's University, 7-5, to snap a four-game winning streak Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Dunn County Ice Arena.

St. Mary's came out of the first period with a 2-1 lead, but the Blue Devils (6-3) jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the first half of the second stanza. St. Mary's tightened the game up with a goal midway though the period, before Nathan Legler (Fr, Lakeville, Minn) scored his second goal of the evening - and his second consecutive two-goal night - to extend Stout's lead to 5-3.

But it was all St. Mary's from thereon with the Cardinals (3-2-1) scoring four unanswered goals to close out the game.

Besides Legler, Stout got goals from Justin Harms (Fr, Eagan, Minn), Dan Riffe (Fr, Byron, Ill) and Cullen Flaherty (So, Duluth, Minn). Mitch Kellin (Fr, Cohasset, Minn) and Drew Nichols (Jr, Victoria, Minn) each picked up two assists.

Stout is off for Thanksgiving, then returns to action Friday, Dec. 1 when they host St. Scholastica.

November 17, 2000

MENOMONIE - The UW-Stout hockey team is off to their best start ever as the Blue Devils downed St. Thomas, 4-3, Friday, Nov. 17 at the Dunn County Ice Arena.

But the Blue Devils (6-2) had to get the win the hard way.

With the scored tied at 2-2 with three minutes remaining in the game, Nathan Legler (Fr, Lakeville, Minn) and Cullen Flaherty (So, Duluth, Minn) combined for two goals in the final two minutes with Legler getting the goals and Flaherty the assists to give Stout a 4-2 lead.

The Tommies (1-3-1) came back hard at the Blue Devils, hitting goalie Ben Plester (Jr, Chemainus, BC) - who had earlier knocked his head against the goal cross bar - with several shots on goal, putting one in with 45 seconds left.

November 14, 2000

ST. PAUL, Minn - Hamline University drew first blood, but it was UW-Stout that would wind up to take advantage as the Blue Devils went on to a 5-3 win over the Pipers, Tuesday, Nov. 14 in St. Paul, Minn.

The Pipers whistled a goal in the first four minutes of the game, then held Stout silent for most of the period until Shane Maher (Sr, Forest Lake, Minn) scored unassisted on the power play seconds before the end of the first period.

Andy Anderson (Sr, Burnsville, Minn) scored his third goal in three games midway through the second period, getting assists from Cullen Flaherty (So, Duluth, Minn) and Dan Riffe (Fr, Byron, Ill) to give Stout the lead. Minutes later, Anderson returned the favor, as he passed to Drew Nichols (Jr, Victoria, Minn) who found Riffe for the score.

But the Pipers tightened the score with three minutes left in the stanza, then knotted the score four minutes into the third period.

Nichols would have none of that as he fed freshman Mitch Kellin (Cohasset, Minn) twice in the final period, the first time to give Stout a 4-3 lead with 5:22 off the clock, then the empty-netter with 19 seconds left in the game. Flaherty got his second assist of the game on Kellin's first goal and Riffe his third assist on the final goal of the evening.

The Blue Devils (5-2) matched their win total from last year as Jeff Dotson (Fr, Chanhassen, Minn) got his first win of the season, recording 26 saves. Both teams recorded 29 shots on goal.

Women's Basketball

November 18, 2000

RIPON - The UW-Stout women's basketball team bounced back from an season opening loss to down Aurora University, 83-64, in the consolation game of the Ripon Tournament.

The Blue Devils (1-1) used the free throw line in the first half to jump out to an 83-64 halftime lead, then held off Aurora in the second.

Amy Zelinger (Jr, Racine) led the Blue Devils with 16 points and Jessie Herrman (So, Barron) had 14. Laura Verdegan (Fr, Tony) added 11 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Tina Gillen (Jr, Northfield, Minn) chipped in 10 points and yanked eight rebounds.

Aurora's Molly Jones led all scorers with 31 points and had nine rebounds.

Stout will host Northwestern College Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.

November 17, 2000

RIPON - The pace was fast, furious and physical as the UW-Stout women's basketball team came up on the short end of a 93-88 decision to Cardinal Stritch University in the first game of the Ripon College Tournament, Friday, Nov. 17.

Stout shot out to a 49-37 halftime lead, but the Crusaders powered their way back in the second half, outscoring Stout 56-39. Stout shot a respectable 57 percent in the first half, but were limited to 41 percent shooting in the second stanza. Cardinal Stritch was aided by the free throw line, hitting 27-of-32 charity shots in the second half alone, and finished hitting 37-of-46. Stout, in contrast, connected on 15-of-19 from the line.

Amy Zelinger (Jr, Racine) led the way for Stout with 21 points, while Jesse Herrman (So, Barron) tossed in 14 points and Sara Kahl (Fr, Menomonie) added 10 for the Blue Devils (0-1).

Cardinal Stritch had all five starters in double digits, with Kris Loehr leading the way with 16 points.

Men's Basketball

November 18, 2000

MENOMONIE - Aaron Vachowiak (Sr, Wausau) scored 22 points while Pat Von Feldt (Sr, Stevens Point) and Dave Larson (Jr, LaCrescent, Minn) each added 14 points to lead Stout to a 78-68 win over Southwest State in the UW-Stout Tip-Off Classic championship game.

Vachowiak poured in 14 points in the second half and hit 11-of-13 field goals on the evening. Nate Templer (Fr, Beaver Dam), playing in his first game, had four blocked shots on the night.

The Blue Devils (2-0) took a 37-23 halftime lead and held up against the rugged NCAA Division II Mustangs (2-3). Stout outrebounded the Mustangs by a slim 29-25 margin, but defensively held them to 42 percent shooting from the field.

In the consolation game, Cardinal Stritch defeated Huron, 85-79. Cardinal Stritch ws led by Casey Jackl with 22 points and Bill Neubauer with 19 points. Scott Rember set a tournament single game record with 13 assists.

For Huron, Antonia Ford hit a triple-double, scoring a game high 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Naron Burks finished with 21 points.

The Blue Devils will host Carroll College, Monday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m., then will venture to Washington, DC, where they will participate in the Gaulladet College tournament, Nov. 24-25. Stout will face Western Connecticut, Friday, Nov. 24.

November 17, 2000

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout basketball coach Eddie Andrist had a successful debut as his Blue Devils handed him a first game victory in the UW-Stout Tip-Off Classic, Friday, Nov. 17 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

The Blue Devils presented Andrist with an 81-77 win over Cardinal Stritch in his first game as the Stout head coach.

Guard Pat Von Feldt (Sr, Stevens Point) led the way with 24 points for the Blue Devils (1-0) and post player Aaron Vachowiak (Sr, Wausau) tossed in 21 points and pulled down nine boards for an inside-outside attack. Von Feldt lit up the scoreboard with four 3-pointers and was perfect at the line, hitting six.

Vachowiak shot 75 percent as he hit 9-of-12 field goals and was also perfect at the line, nailing three freebies.

Stout turned a 40-35 halftime lead into a 12-point, 60-48 lead midway through the second half, but Cardinal Stritch came back to within two before Von Feldt stepped to the line to hit all six free throws in the last 47 seconds of the game.

The Crusaders (3-1) were led by Casey Jackl with 16 points and three players with 12 points.

In the first game, Southwest State University pulled away from Huron University with about seven minutes remaining and sailed to a 75-65 win. Scott Koenen had 19 points to lead Southwest. Jared Miller chipped in 14 points and Chad Koenen, 14.

Huron's Antonio Ford led all scorers with 20 points, while Darl Adams had 12.

Updated: November 21, 2000