Scott Gurgel

Senior co-captain Chandra Butterfield hasn’t played for the soccer team since injuring her leg in the first game of the season.

Now, senior co-captain Tina Welle, also is injured. She suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament near the end of the first half against Elmhurst College (Ill.) Saturday.

“It’s a big loss,” coach Sean Yengo said of Welle’s injury after the team’s 3-2 loss to Elmhurst.

It’s not just a loss of her play on the field either.

“She’s a great leader,” junior Jullia Powell said. “A lot of people look up to her. Someone else will have to step up.”

The field was full of mud and water, which may have contributed to the amount of injuries.

It rained throughout the first half, forcing many fans to the safety of their vehicles.

The referees thought of calling the game, but decided against it, thinking the rain would soon end.

“It was sloppy,” Powell said. “You would run and the ball would just stop.”

Elmhurst changed its strategy in the second half, changing from two forwards to three.

“We had a hard time adjusting,” Powell said.

The team wanted to work on its diagonals during the match, but had trouble doing so.

“It was not easy considering the weather,” Powell said.

Eau Claire’s first goal was scored by Welle on a penalty kick following a hand ball.

Freshman Kris Unterweger scored the second goal, with an assist by senior Erika Thompson.

On Thursday, Eau Claire beat UW-Stout 4-0. Eau Claire has never lost to Stout.

“We’re just better,” Yengo said. “They’re much improved though.”

The coach was pleased with how the team played.

“We worked hard,” Yengo said. “It was on a small field which made it more difficult.”

All the Blugolds’ goals came during the second half.

The first goal against Stout was scored by Thompson with an assist by sophomore Maleia Damato. Sophomore Kelly Kavanaugh scored the second goal, assisted by Powell. Unterweger scored the third, assisted by Welle, and Powell scored the fourth with an assist from sophomore Erin Ziech.

For its next gam against UW-River Fall the team will be concentrating on its passing combinations.

“We need to control the ball a little more,” Powell said.

The coach has a lot of confidence going into the game, and for the rest of the season.

“We have two conference games left,” Yengo said. “We should win both of those.”

Eau Claire’s record is 7-4-2, 3-2-1 in the conference.