EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - A total of 12 UW-Eau Claire student-athletes have been recognized by being named an Athlete of the Week for the fifth week of the 2013-14 season.
Football
Offense: Paul Santi, Offensive Lineman, 6-1, 295, Senior, Kingsford, Mich.
Santi started the game against 10th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.) at center Saturday. He blocked for a Blugold offense that finished with 312 total yards, 145 on the ground and 167 through the air. The Blugolds also scored three rushing touchdowns but came up just short, 21-19, to the Lutes.
Defense: Dalton Evertz, Defensive Lineman, 6-1, 280, Junior, Andover, Minn./Anoka
Starting at nose guard, Evertz and the Blugold defense held 10th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.) to 348 yards of offense, the lowest total for the Lutes this season. Evertz finished the game with four tackles, one solo and three assists. The Blugolds held the Lutes to 21 points, their lowest total since Nov. 12, 2011.
Special Teams: Erik Hulman, Linebacker, 6-0, 206, Sophomore, Milwaukee, Wis./Lutheran
Hulman recorded two tackles on special teams this weekend as the Blugolds fell just short, 21-19, to 10th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.). Both of his special teams tackles came on kickoffs while he finished with a total of five tackles, four solos and one assist, fourth most on the team.
Men’s Tennis
Singles: Conrad Felten, Freshman, Wausau, Wis./East
In the Midwest Open Singles Championship in Minnesota this weekend, Felten led the Blugolds by getting to the fourth round, one away from the quarterfinals. In his fourth round match, he lost the opening set 6-1 but won the second one 6-3. In the super tiebreaker, he came up just short 12-10, to finish the weekend 3-1.
Doubles: Josh Chuba, Freshman, Elk River, Minn. & Austin Auleta, Freshman, Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial
The doubles pair of Chuba and Auleta led the Blugolds at the Midwest Open in Minnesota this weekend, advancing to the semifinal round of the doubles championship. They won four straight to get to a semifinal match but then fell 8-5 to finish their time at the open with a 4-1 record.
Soccer
Offense: Caroline Henderson, Forward, 5-5, Sophomore, Duluth, Minn./East
In two games this week, the Blugolds won one on Wednesday and lost another on Saturday. Having not won a game since Sept. 5, the Blugolds were looking for a win and got it by defeating Bethel University (Minn.) 3-1 on Wednesday. Henderson scored the Blugolds’ opening goal in the 19th minute and finished the game with two shots. Saturday in a 2-0 loss at UW-Whitewater on Saturday, she led the Blugolds with four shots, two of which were on-goal.
Defense: Megan Hanson, Defender, 5-9, Sophomore, Verona, Wis./Verona Area
In two games this week, Hanson and the rest of the Blugold defense gave up just three goals and 15 shots, only eight of which were on-goal, as the Blugolds split. In a 3-1 win Wednesday over Bethel University (Minn.), the Royals recorded seven shots, including two on-goal. Saturday in a 2-0 loss at UW-Whitewater, the Blugolds gave up eight shots, six on-goal. Eau Claire also defended against eight corner kicks this week.
Volleyball
Jenna Smits, Setter, 5-8, Sophomore, Green Bay, Wis./Preble
Smits led the Blugolds in setting in three out of four matches this week, including two against ranked opponents. Saturday against Millikin University (Ill.), she finished with a team-high 24 set assists and 11 digs, helping the Blugolds to a 3-0 win. Earlier in the day against sixth-ranked Elmhurst College (Ill.), she had 37 set assists and nine digs, but the Blugolds lost 3-1. Friday night in a 3-0 loss to ninth-ranked Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.), she tied for a team high with nine set assists. On Wednesday in a 3-0 WIAC win over UW-River Falls, Smits was second on the team with 13 set assists. For the week, she finished with 83 assists, 26 digs, 11 kills with a hitting percentage of .476, seven block assists and three service aces, playing in 13 sets.
Women’s Cross Country
Melody Becker, Freshman, Osseo, Wis.
Becker won the Saint Mary’s No Limit Invitational on Friday, leading the Blugolds to a first place finish out of five teams. In a field of 54 runners, Becker finished the hilly 6,000-meter course with a time of 24:44.2.
Men’s Cross Country
Ryan Mugan, Sophomore, Howards Grove, Wis.
Mugan led the Blugolds to a first place finish out of 26 teams at the Maroon Division III race at the University of Minnesota’s Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday. It was the first time in history the Blugolds won the meet. Mugan placed seventh overall with a time of 26:09.03 on the 8,000-meter course.
Men’s Golf
Brady Hanson, Freshman, Woodbury, Minn./East
Competing as an individual this weekend at the Twin Cities Classic, hosted by Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.), Hanson won medalist honors by finishing with 218 strokes (+2). A total of 100 golfers competed in this year’s event.