La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team completed its 2024 regular season with a 1-0 win over UW-Stevens Point Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Eagles improve to 14-3-2 overall and finish 6-0-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Pointers drop to 6-7-5 overall and 3-3-1 in the WIAC.
Ellie Behnke scored the game's only goal.
It is UWL's ninth shutout of the season.
UWL has clinched the WIAC regular season title and will host a conference tournament semifinal on Thursday, November 7 at 4 p.m. The Eagles have now won seven (1996, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024) regular season league titles in school history, including three straight under head coach
Jason Murphy. UWL, 8-0-2 in its last 10 games, is ranked third in Region IX in the United Soccer Coaches. The Eagles extended their WIAC unbeaten streak to 22 (21-0-1) with Saturday's victory.
The game was scoreless at halftime Saturday with UWL recording six shots and UW-Stevens Point seven. The Eagles had three corner kicks in the first 45:00 while the Pointers had two.
UWL scored the game's only goal at 51:12 with
Ellie Behnke notching her fourth goal of the season.
Alexis McMahon recorded her sixth assist.
The Eagles finished with 17 shots in the game, including three on goal. Behnke led UWL with three shots while
Amaya Thesing,
Jillian Sawadski,
Megan McNeely,
Chelsea Gale and
Aubree Caya each had two. UWL had five corner kicks.
Alexis McMahon recorded an assist Saturday.
Erelyn Apel earned the shutout win, registering three saves. UWL also had one team save.
UW-Stevens Point totaled nine shots with four on goal. Cass Klitzke and Jessica Camarato led the Pointers with two shots with Klitzke recording both on goal and Camarato with one. UW-Stevens Point had three corner kicks.
Erika Panella recorded two saves.
UWL returns to action Thursday, November 7 hosting a WIAC Tournament Semifinal at 4 p.m. The Eagles will host the lowest remaining seed. UWL and UW-Platteville (#2 seed) receive first round byes.
In first round games on Tuesday, November 5, fifth-seeded UW-River Falls plays at fourth-seeded UW-Stevens Point while third-seeded UW-Eau Claire hosts sixth-seeded UW-Whitewater.
