As they have so many times before this season, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's soccer team got off to a quick start Saturday against UW-Eau Claire. A goal by the Warhawks in the 7th minute and the 9th minute fueled a 3-0 win over the visiting Blugolds. The 16th ranked Warhawks improve to 11-2 overall and 3-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while increasing their WIAC regular season game winning streak to 32 matches. The Blugolds fall to 3-7-3 overall and 2-2 in the WIAC.

The smallest player on the field made the biggest play early in the game. Standing at five feet tall, Marie Lesperance (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha South) headed in a pass from Morgan Beaty (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) to give the Warhawks a 1-0 lead just 6:43 into the match.

Mackenzie Serbousek (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Cedar Rapids Prairie) upped the tally to 2-0 when a rebound fell to her feet and she knocked it in for her fourth goal of the season.

Head Coach Ryan Quamme noted, "I think it's important, especially in these conference games, to get off to a quick start. I felt we were very crisp the first 15 minutes."

That quick start mentality seems to be the modus operandi for the Warhawks in their conference matches this season. Last week against UW-River Falls, the Warhawks tallied a goal in the very first minute of play. Earlier in the season, against UW-Stevens Point, the Warhawks notched their first goal within the first five minutes.

Quamme added, "When we get up a goal or two, it becomes a little easier to manage the match. I was very pleased with another quick start."

As the half wore on, the Warhawks kept fresh legs on the field with frequent subbing, but after 45 minutes the score remained 2-0.

UW-Whitewater stayed on the attack in the second half, but focused highly on possession. With less than ten minutes remaining in the game, Brianna Greefkes (West Bend, Wis./West Bend West) took a shot from the left side of the goal that deflected off of a defender and into the net to give the Warhawks a 3-0 advantage.

The Blugolds served up just two shots in the first half and five in the match. Erin Doody (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central) only had to make one save for UW-W as she earned the shutout, her third of the season.

Saturday's game marked the first in a four game stretch over seven days. Quamme was able to play 24 players in the match and keep most of his players' minutes down. "That was the nice thing today. We had a lot of people step up and we were able to play a lot of people and hopefully keep people fresh for the week."

Up next the Warhawks will hit the road as they travel to Fond du Lac on Monday to take on Marian at 5 pm.

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