La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team, tied for 13th in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top-25 Poll, earned a 4-0 win over UW-Stevens Point in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament Semifinal (presented by Culver's) Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Eagles improve to 18-1-1 while the Pointers conclude their season at 7-9-4.
With the win, UWL advances to Saturday's WIAC Championship game, hosting UW-Eau Claire at 5 p.m.
Ainsley Allan scored her 12th goal of the season.
The Eagles extended their unbeaten streak to 15 (14-0-1) with Thursday's victory while also earning their 11th straight win. UWL's 18 wins are tied for second in single-season school history, also recording 18 victories in 2018. The Eagles won a school record 20 games in 2017. The 11-game winning streak ranks as the third-longest in school history after winning 12 consecutive in 2017 and 14 in 2018.
UWL took a quick 1-0 lead on
Ellie Arndt's penalty kick goal at 1:58. The Eagles made it 2-0 at 11:01 as
Ainsley Allan scored on a Claire Cater assist.
Alexis McMahon gave UWL a 3-0 lead at 32:43, scoring on her own corner kick.
The Eagles out shot the Pointers, 15-5, in the first half. UWL also had nine corner kicks in the opening half to UW-Stevens Point's one.
Lexy Syzmanski finished the scoring for UWL with a goal at 69:32 off Lindsey Szymanski's assist.
UWL finished with 23 shots, including 10 on goal. McMahon had four shots in the game with two on goal while Lindsey Szymanski finished with three shots, including two on goal. Cater had two shots, both coming on goal.
UW-Stevens Point totaled 11 shots with eight on goal. Kati Frierdich finished with four shots, all coming on goal, while Shea-Lynn Gerred had three shots with two on goal.
UWL recorded its 12th shutout of the season Thursday, second-most in school history. The Eagles had 14 shutouts in 2017.
McKenna Lloyd earned the win, finishing with six saves in 70:58. Robin Blair recorded two saves in 19:02.
Alexis McMahon's goal gave UWL a 3-0 lead.
Miranda Nieman had six saves for UW-Stevens Point.
UWL will make its eighth appearance in the WIAC Championship game, winning the tournament title three times (1996, 2017, 2018). The winner of the conference tournament earns the league's automatic bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships.
