La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team, ranked 23rd on this week's United Soccer Coaches National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Top-25 Poll, earned the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship (Presented by Culver's) Saturday night with a 3-1 victory over UW-Eau Claire at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Eagles improve to 17-2-2 with the win while the Blugolds fall to 9-8-2. 

It is UWL's third WIAC Championship title in school history, winning the crown in 1996 and 2017.  The Eagles were making their fifth appearance in the championship game, including third straight. 

With the victory, UWL earns the WIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships. The Eagles will make their third appearance (2015, 2017, 2018) in school history in the national championships.  UWL fell in the first round of the 2015 tournament while advancing to the NCAA III Quarterfinals last year.  

The NCAA Division III Championship field will be announced Monday, November 5 at 12:30 p.m.   

UWL took a 1-0 lead on Saturday with Maya Schmitt scoring at 11:09 off a Natalie Herzog assist. The Eagles quickly made it 2-0 at 13:30 with Herzog scoring after a Margaret Harings assist. UW-Eau Claire cut the lead to 2-1 at 35:56 with Emily Sullivan getting the goal and Mercedes Wilson the assist. 

The Eagles led, 2-1, at halftime, outshooting the Blugolds, 11-1. 

Alex Cording made it 3-1 at 51:29 off a Kaitlyn Villars' corner kick. 

UWL totaled 17 shots in the game, including eight on goal. Harings finished with four shots while Hannah Beech had three, including two on goal. UW-Eau Claire was held to three shots with two on goal. Sullivan finished with two shots, one on goal.

Lily Brock (14-1-2) earned the win for UWL, finishing with one save. Samantha Lefaive (9-7-2) took the loss for UW-Eau Claire, recording fie saves.