Related Links:
2014 WIAC Women's Soccer Tournament Web Page
2014 UW-Whitewater Statistics
UW-River Falls Women's Soccer Web Page
 
Heading into the 2014 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, there are several things the five members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's soccer senior class are not aware of.
 
To start, the Warhawks head into this week's conference tournament with a 17-2 record, including a school-record 14-match winning streak, the No. 12 ranking in the nation according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, a No. 2 placement in the North Region by the NCAA and the program's fifth consecutive WIAC regular season title.
 
In addition, since 2011 – the freshman year of this year's five seniors – UW-Whitewater has claimed four WIAC regular season championships and two league tournament titles, has made three appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament and has posted a record of 64-13-8, including a 30-1-1 mark in WIAC play with a 29-match winning streak.
 
For Kelsey Beld (Madison, Wis./Madison Memorial), Kaitlyn Fritsch (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove), Emily Haeger (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows), Jordan Myers (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and Sarah Sedlar (Racine, Wis./Racine Case), the focus lies not on the impressive list of accolades above, but on the team's next match – Thursday's WIAC Tournament semifinal against fourth-seeded UW-River Falls at 6 p.m. at Fiskum Field.
 
"We don't really focus on records, stats or rankings," said Beld, an Academic All-America and first team All-WIAC honoree. "I honestly have no idea where we are ranked. I have not looked at the rankings once this year, and I feel like that's not our motivation. Our motivation is to win for each other."
 
For the Warhawks, it's about the next match on the schedule, not about the tournament.
 
This no-nonsense approach to each contest is the primary day-to-day focus, with the team's broader goals – to reach the NCAA national semifinals and championship match – already set by the returners during the spring practice before each upcoming season.
 
A gut-wrenching, 1-0 loss to Capital (Ohio) in the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament helped keep the team motivated in its offseason workouts, which were the hardest they've ever been, according to the group.
 
"I think a loss like that makes us more motivated to not have that feeling again, and do everything possible in offseason workouts – work out, get touches on the ball and do everything you can – to not have that feeling again," Sedlar said.
 
According to Haeger, who was being recruited primarily out of high school to play volleyball at the college level, UW-Whitewater 'peaked', or reached its highest potential, early last season. She doesn't believe the team has gotten to that pinnacle yet in 2014.
 
"Last year, we put a couple of games together – we call it putting 90 minutes together – and we still haven't put those 90 minutes together," Haeger said. "I think going into the WIAC Tournament, it's good to not have peaked yet."
 
Following a 3-2 start, the Warhawks reeled off five consecutive shutouts to conclude the month of September. In the seven-match stretch that followed, UW-Whitewater posted six one-goal victories, including a 1-0 triumph over UW-Oshkosh, the WIAC Tournament's No. 2 seed and a potential opponent if the Warhawks reach Saturday's final.
 
UW-Whitewater concluded the regular season with back-to-back 8-0 wins, clinching their third consecutive 8-0 record in league play with a victory at UW-Superior on Oct. 25.
 
After watching film on Friday morning, the Warhawks enjoyed a rare weekend off before returning for a workout Monday and practice Tuesday.
 
The group agreed it would be a good time for the team to relax and refocus heading into the postseason.
 
"I think the focus is still there because everyone on this team has a winning mentality," Sedlar said. "They're all competitive, so they bring that focus. Even if they're going home to see their family, it might help them refocus and go longer in the stretch of the season. I think the focus is still there, but there might be some family-oriented stuff that will help them focus stronger."
 
Fritsch, a four-year starter at defender, said the break also helps with the physical toll the season takes.
 
"At this point of the season last year, I feel like we weren't tired, but we were beat up," Fritsch said. "Taking advantage of having a week off will help us in the long run, because we can rest and recuperate, and kind of focus now on postseason."
 
No matter how far UW-Whitewater goes in the postseason, this year's senior class will go down as the winningest class in school history.
 
Each player brings something different to the table.
 
Fritsch went into detail, describing Myers, a first team all-region and two-time first team all-conference selection, as a "calming presence." Haeger, Myers' backup, is "the most positive person" Fritsch has ever met. Sedlar is a "wall," or quiet leader, while Beld is the team's "workhorse".
 
Haeger and Sedlar described Fritsch as "intense."
 
With all of the different personalities in the senior class, sticking to the program's values of being goal-oriented, accountable and humble has been key to keeping everyone on the same page.
 
"I definitely think we all play for each other," Beld said. "On the hard days, your best friends are there to pick you up. On your good days, they're there to cheer you on. We're all there for each other, regardless if it's a senior or freshman.
 
"As freshmen and sophomores, we had good leaders above us to bring us in and teach us the way of UW-Whitewater soccer, and now we're those leaders teaching the freshmen and sophomores what Warhawk soccer is all about."
 
The Warhawks have won their last six meetings against UW-River Falls (12-5-3), including a 2-0 triumph back on Sept. 27 at Fiskum Field.
 
With a victory Thursday, UW-Whitewater would host Saturday's WIAC Tournament final and set a program record for wins in one season.