Tonight when the UW-Eau Claire men’s soccer club team takes on UW-Stout in Menomonie at 7 p.m., there will be added incentive to pick up a victory.

“It’d be nice to ruin their homecoming,” said senior Seth Koslowski, who is participating in his third year in club soccer.

This weekend the team will play Minnesota teams A and B in its last regular games of the season.

Although these are non-conference games, wins would put the men in a better position to earn a spot at the national tournament.

Nationals consist of teams that win in their respective regionals. To qualify for regionals, a team must end in first place in its conference. Eau Claire’s team currently is in second place behind UW-La Crosse. Even if Eau Claire finishes in second, the team still has a chance to make it to nationals if they are chosen by the selection committee.

Men’s club soccer, which consists of about 22 players, adheres to a regular practice schedule under their coach, David Webb. Webb is an Eau Claire graduate and is in his second year as the club soccer coach.

Tryouts for club soccer are held in mid-August and are very competitive, Koslowski said.

Men who made it last year are not guaranteed a spot on the team. Many were cut before this season began, he said.

Attendance at club soccer games has increased over the last few years, Koslowski said.

“This year has been phenomenal,” Koslowski said. “We’ve had a lot of support from many of the students.”

He also said last week’s homecoming game, when the dance team performed during the game for the first time, the team had a great crowd turnout.