Whitewater, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team, ranked 19th on the United Soccer Coaches National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Poll, captured the 2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular-season championship with a 2-0 victory at UW-Whitewater Saturday afternoon.
It is the UWL's third regular-season conference title in school history (1996, 2015, 2017). With the championship, UWL will be the top-seed for the WIAC Tournament and host a semifinal game Thursday, November 2.
"We didn't play our best soccer today, but to go on the road in the WIAC and clinch a conference championship is always exciting day for UWL soccer," said head coach
Jason Murphy.
UWL, ranked 21st on D3soccer.com, improved to 14-1-2 overall and 6-0 in the WIAC with its ninth straight victory Saturday. The Eagles set a school record with their ninth consecutive victory and the 14 overall wins ties the single-season school record set last year. UWL registered its 11th shutout of the year, breaking the single-season record of 10 set in 1995, 2010, and 2016.
UW-Whitewater drops to 10-3-3 overall and 2-2-1 in the WIAC with Saturday's loss.
"Our championship today is a credit to our current players, as they have done the work this year, but this is also for all our alumni, former coaches, administrators, and fans," said Murphy. "Those people have laid the ground work for this group and I couldn't be happier for them."
Alex Cording gave UWL a 1-0 lead Saturday at 2:38, her team-leading ninth of the season.
Cassie Handrick recorded the assist. Cording scored on a header off a corner kick. The Eagles led 1-0 at halftime.
Margaret Harings notched her eighth goal of the season at 57:47 with Cording recording the assist to give UWl a 2-0 advantage.
"
Alex Cording got us off on the front foot with a goal inside of three minutes off a great service from
Cassie Handrick," said Murphy. "Then in the second half, Margaret got behind and showed her composure with a great finish. Alex again had a hand in the play with the assist."
UWL finished with four shots in the game with all four coming on goal. UW-Whitewater totaled 10 shots with three on goal.
Lily Brock recorded three saves for UWL. Sara Klimisch finished with two saves for UW-Whitewater.
"Our defenders did a great job weathering the wind and keeping a clean sheet," added Murphy. "Eleven shutouts is something everyone should be proud of."
UWL returns to action Sunday, October 22 at Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.) at 1 p.m.
