Stevens Point, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team advanced to its fourth straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship game (presented by Culver's) with a 3-0 shootout victory over UW-Stevens Point in Thursday's semifinal at Goerke Park. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.
UWL is now 12-6-3 on the season while UW-Stevens Point is 11-4-3. UWL, the tournament's fourth seed, advances to play at top-seeded UW-Whitewater on Saturday, November 9 at 6 p.m. in the championship game. The winner earns the WIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships. UW-Whitewater earned a 3-1 home victory over sixth-seeded UW-River Falls in Thursday's second semifinal.
Quinn Shannon had 10 saves.
UWL has won three (1996, 2017, 2018) WIAC tournament titles, including a 4-3 home shootout victory over UW-Whitewater in 2017 (game ended in 1-1 tie). The Eagles earned a 3-1 championship victory over UW-Eau Claire last season in La Crosse.
UWL and UW-Stevens Point were scoreless at halftime in Thursday's contest with the Pointers registering all 15 shots in the first half. UW-Stevens Point, the tournament's second-seed, had five corner kicks in the first 45 minutes to UWL's two.
The Eagles'
Quinn Shannon had seven saves in the first half.
UW-Stevens Point took a 1-0 lead at 72:23 on Maddy Hardyman's fourth goal of the season with Kati Frierdich recording the assist. UWL quickly responded at 76:18 to tie the game at 1-1 as
Sydney Halstead scored on
Maddy Fennessy's assist.
Both teams had chances to score late in regulation. UWL's
Sophie Amundson had her shot blocked at 87:06 while Fennessy's potential game-winning goal went wide at 88:25. UW-Stevens Point had a chance to win in regulation, but Shannon saved Jaqueline Aleman's shot at 89:34.
The Pointers recorded all three shots in overtime before the game went to penalty kicks. UWL's
Natalie Jamison and UW-Stevens Point's Hardyman both missed on the first penalty kicks for both teams. Amundson scored for the Eagles to make it 1-0 and Aleman missed on her attempt for the Pointers. Halstead scored on her penalty kick for a 2-0 advantage and Lauren Johnson missed for UW-Stevens Point. The Eagles'
Katie Feller then converted her shot to give UWL the 3-0 shootout victory.
Katie Feller scored on a penalty kick.
UWL was held to five shots in the game. The Eagles' only shot on goal resulted in Halstead's goal in the second period. UW-Stevens Point totaled 23 shots, including 11 on goal. The Pointers held a 11-7 advantage on corner kicks.
Shannon recorded 10 saves for UWL while Lexi Pawlowski did not have a save for UW-Stevens Point.
