Box Score La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team advanced to the third round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships with a 1-0 win over Illinois Wesleyan University Saturday evening at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. With the win, UWL advances to the third round for fourth time in five national tournaments. Opponent and location to be determined after second round games are completed on Sunday.
Ainsley Allan scored the game's only goal.
The win moves UWL to 21-1-1 overall while Illinois Wesleyan ends its season at 11-5-3. UWL extended its unbeaten streak to 18 (17-0-1) with Saturday's win while also earning its 14th straight victory overall.
The 21 wins breaks the single-season school record of 20 set in 2017. The 14-game winning streak ties the single season record 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 8-3-3 in NCAA Division III Championship history. All of UWL's appearances have come under current head coach
Jason Murphy.
UWL wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as it got a goal from
Ainsley Allan in the second minute of the first half. Allan scored the game-winning goal on an assist from
Ellie Arndt. It was Allan's 15th goal of the year, third-most in a single-season history. It was Arndt's seventh assist on the year. The score remained 1-0 entering halftime as UWL out shot Illinois Wesleyan, 13-4.
The second half saw both teams have equal scoring opportunities as IWU out shot UWL, 7-6. One of the best scoring opportunities for the Titans came in the 80th minute when the Eagles were whistled for a foul in the penalty box giving the Titans a penalty kick. Caelyn Steffens took the penalty kick but her shot hit the right post and ricocheted out. Jenna Li of the Titans sent the rebound back in at goal but
Alexis McMahon was able to clear the ball for a team save. The Titans would have one more shot that was wide left in the 80th minute as no more shots by either team were recorded in the final nine minutes.
UWL finished the game with a 19-11 advantage in shots, including an 8-7 edge in shots on goal. Allan led the Eagles with five shots, two on goal, while
Ellie Behnke and Arndt each had three shots. Steffens led the Titans with three shots, two on goal, while Liza Matimore had two shots on goal.
Goalkeeper McKenna Lloyd stopped six shots, earning the shutout for the Eagles.
McKenna Lloyd earned the win in goal for UWL, finishing with six saves. Kayla Borg finished with sevens saves in goal for the Titans.
UWL recorded its 14th shutout of the season on Saturday, tying the school record set in 2017.
