La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team advanced to the second round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships with a 3-0 win over Greenville University (Ill.) Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. With the win, UWL advances to Saturday's second round versus the winner of Concordia University Wisconsin and Illinois Wesleyan University.
UWL improves 20-1-1 while Greenville (Ill.) ends its season at 13-6-2.
Claire Cater scored the game-winning goal on Friday.
UWL extended its unbeaten streak to 17 (16-0-1) with Friday's win while also earning its 13th straight victory overall. The Eagles' 20 wins tie the single-season school record set in 2017. The 13-game winning streak is the second-longest in school history after winning 14 consecutive in 2018.
The Eagles, making their fifth appearance (2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) in school history in the national championships, are now 7-3-3 in NCAA Division III Championship history. All of UWL's appearances have come under current head coach
Jason Murphy.
The game was scoreless at halftime after UWL totaled 20 shots, including 11 on goal. Greenville was held to one shot in the first 45:00. The Eagles had all six corner kicks in the first half.
UWL got on the scoreboard at 47:36 on Claire Cater's goal off a
Maggie Hernandez assist.
Natalie Schisel made it 2-0 at 71:47 on assists from
Isabel Batley and
Ellie Behnke.
The Eagles took a 3-0 advantage as Lexy Szymanski scored at 85:01 on a
Alexis McMahon assist.
UWL totaled 39 shots in the game with 21 on goal.
Ainsley Allan led the Eagles with seven shots, including five on goal. McMahon had four shots, all coming on goal while Cater and
Ellie Arndt each finished with four shots and three on goal. Thirteen different players recorded a shot for UWL with nine having a shot on goal.
Lexy Szymanski scored in the 85th minute.
Greenville (Ill.) finished with four shots, including two on goal. Jen De Leon De Leon had all four shots for the Panthers.
McKenna Lloyd earned the win in goal for UWL, finishing with two saves. Addison Miller recorded 17 saves for Greenville (Ill.). The Panthers also had one team save.
UWL recorded its 13th shutout of the season on Friday, the second-most in school history. The Eagles had 14 shutouts in 2017.
