La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse earned a 3-0 shootout victory over the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division III Championships Second Round Sunday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The teams finished in a 2-2 double overtime tie.
UWL is now 18-2-3 on the season while St. Thomas (Minn.) ends the 2018 season at 19-2-1. These two teams faced off last season in the 2017 second round of the NCAA Championships with UWL winning, 1-0.
UWL will play at Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.) on Friday, November 16 at 5 p.m.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the opening period Sunday as the Tommies had a slight edge of 7-5 in shots.
UWL would get on the scoreboard first at 52:43 as
Maya Schmitt scored her ninth goal of the season on an assist from
Kaitlyn Villars. Villars found the head of Schmitt off a corner kick. The Eagles would add to their lead at 65:01 when
Margaret Harings headed a crossing pass from
Cassie Handrick into the goal. It was Harings' 12th goal of the season and Handrick's eighth assist.
With the score still 2-0, St. Thomas (Minn.) was fouled inside the penalty box and were awarded a penalty kick at 79:40. Kate Heimer took the penalty kick for the Tommies and converted the kick for her fifth goal of the season. St. Thomas (Minn.) then tied the game up at 2-2 on a goal by Heimer at the 85:05 mark. Mary Ennis assisted on the goal.
The two teams would play two extra 10 minute periods, but neither was able to convert their scoring chances. In the first overtime period both teams had two shots while UWL had a 4-3 advantage in the second overtime.
With the score still tied at two after both overtime periods, the game then was then to be determined on a shootout.
Lily Brock
Harings took the first shootout attempt for the Eagles and found the net. UWL goalkeeper Lilly Brock would then make a stop on the Tommies' first attempt, taken by Brie Bourdage.
Alex Cording then stepped up for the Eagles and converted again for UWL. Brock would then make a diving save on Kristen Epperly's attempt.
After both teams did not convert on their third attempt, UWL's Villars would send the Eagles to the 3-0 shootout victory with her successful attempt.
St. Thomas (Minn.) finished with a slight, 20-18, advantage in shots including an 11-7 edge in shots on goal. Kaley Roberts led the Tommies with eight shots, including four on goal. Harings led UWL with eight shots, including two on goal. Brock finished with nine saves while Olivia Elvidge had five saves.
UWL will be making its second consecutive appearance in the third round of the NCAA Championships with Washington-St. Louis (Mo.) as the same opponent. These two teams played each other last year in Chicago, Ill. as UWL earned a 2-1 victory. Handrick and
Natalie Herzog scored for the Eagles.
