Box Score Menomonie, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team earned a 4-2 victory at UW-Stout Wednesday night at Nelson Field.  The Eagles, ranked fifth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) North Region, improve to 12-4 overall and 4-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while UW-Stout drops to 6-9-2 overall and 3-3 in the conference. 

With the win, UWL moves into second-place in the WIAC with 12 points with one regular season game remaining.  UW-Whitewater, 6-0 in league play, has clinched the regular season title. UW-Eau Claire is in third-place with 10 points while UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stout are tied for fourth with nine. UWL wraps up its regular season Saturday, October 29 at UW-Oshkosh at 2 p.m.

UWL's 12 wins this year ties last season's total when the Eagles went 12-7-2.  The 12 wins are tied for third-most in single-season school history. UWL won a school record 13 games in 1994 and 1996.  UWL is 24-11-2 the last two years.

The Eagles outshot the Blue Devils 7-1 in the first half Wednesday, but trailed at the break 1-0 after a goal from Nikki Sevidy at 40:29 following a free kick. 

UWL scored three goals in the first five minutes of the second half to take a 3-1 lead.  Natalie Herzog scored her sixth goal of the year just :37 into the period at 45:37 to tie the game at 1-1 with Haley Hartkemeyer recording her team-high fifth assist of the year.  The Eagles took a 2-1 lead at 47:59 as Hartkemeyer notched her sixth goal of the season.    

"Haley had a great game on top tonight," said UWL head coach Jason Murphy.  "She was able to stretch the game and put their backs under pressure.  Her goal was a great composed finish."

Herzog got her second goal of the game and her team-tying seventh of the season at 49:29 to make it 3-1.  Alex Cording recorded the assist. Herzog and Cording are now tied for the team lead with seven goals.

"Natalie was fantastic in the second half," said Murphy.  "In addition to her offense, she really did a lot of work defensively to see the game out.  She really impacted the outcome and left it all out on the field."

UW-Stout cut the lead to 3-2 at 63:02 with Sydney Casper scoring as the ball deflected in after it being cleared by UWL goalkeeper Abbi Burke.

Maddie Granos gave the Eagles a 4-2 advantage with her fourth goal of the year at 82:13.  Herzog registered her fourth assist of the season on the play. 

"The game was a tale of two halves," added Murphy.  "I am excited with how the team responded at the start of the second half.  It completely changed the game."

UWL outshot UW-Stout, 21-3, in the game, and had 10 shots on goal while the Blue Devils were held to two. 

Burke picked up the win to go to 2-0 on the year while Lynn Johnson had six saves in the loss for UW-Stout.  Johnson dropped to 6-9-2 on the season.  

UWL returns to action Saturday, October 29 at UW-Oshkosh at 2 p.m. in the regular season finale for both teams.