Box Score Oshkosh, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team earned a 3-0 victory at UW-Oshkosh Saturday afternoon to tie a single-season school record with 13 victories. The Eagles improve to 13-4 overall and 5-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), clinching the second seed for the league championships next week. UW-Oshkosh drops to 9-8-1 overall and 3-4 in the WIAC and will be the tournament's fifth seed.
UWL also won a school record 13 matches in 1994 and 1996. The Eagles are 25-11-2 in the last two seasons after finishing 12-7-2 a year ago.
The Eagles, ranked fifth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) North Region, took a 1-0 lead at 39:26 with
Maddie Granos scoring her fifth goal of the season with an assist from
Natalie Herzog. UWL made it 2-0 at 40:15 as
Cassie Handrick scored her third goal of the year. Granos recorded the assist.
"Maddie and Cassie really played well today and provided a spark to our team when they came on in the first half," said UWL head coach
Jason Murphy. "Maddie's opening goal was impressive as she read the game so well. It is just a credit to her hard work, as she really has been playing well the past month."
UWL outshot UW-Oshkosh, 17-6, in the first half, to lead 2-0.
Herzog notched her team-high eighth goal of the season at 71:48 assisted by
Delaney Harnell. "
Natalie Herzog again scored a goal and had an assist," said Murphy. "She is making a habit of having an impact on the game."
Abbi Burke (3-0) finished with seven saves as UWL earned its ninth shutout of the season. The nine shutouts are tied for third in single-season school history. The Eagles had a school record 10 shutouts in 1995 and 2011.
"Our team competed from the start and really played well knowing we had to win to finish second (in the WIAC)," added Murphy. "We were able to control the game with our possession and create quality chances."
UWL finished with 26 shots Saturday, including 15 on goal. UW-Oshkosh was shutout for the second time this season, being limited to 10 shots with seven on goal. Madelyn Runyan recorded 12 saves for the Titans.
"We were able to set some school records today, but that is never our goal," said Murphy. "It is a product of how far this program has come recently and and how hard these players work. Their continual ability to train hard, learn, and have fun everyday is a pleasure to be around. They deserve all the credit for every record."
UWL returns to action Thursday, November 3 hosting a WIAC Championship (Presented by Culver's) Semifinal at 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Eagles will play the highest remaining seed.
Top-seeded UW-Whitewater will host the other semifinal November 3 and host the lowest remaining seed.
UW-Oshkosh (#5 seed) plays at UW-Stout (#4) and UW-River Falls (#6) travels to UW-Eau Claire (#3) in the tournament's first round Tuesday, November 1.
