River Falls, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team opened Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play with a 6-0 victory at UW-River Falls Wednesday afternoon at Ramer Soccer Stadium. The Eagles improve to 10-1 overall while the Falcons, also playing their league opener, fall to 8-3 on the season.
UWL improves to 20-14-3 all-time versus UW-River Falls with the Falcons last earning a victory by the score of 2-1 in overtime in 2014.
It is UWL's 11th straight win in the series, including fifth straight shutout.
With the win, UWL extends its WIAC unbeaten streak to 22 (21-0-1). The Eagles are seeking their fourth straight WIAC regular season title this year and eighth in school history. UWL is 27-1-1 in its last 29 regular season conference contests. The lone loss came UW-Oshkosh (2-1) on October 23, 2021.
Jillian Sawadski recorded a goal and assist in the win.
The Eagles tallied three first half goals in Wednesday's win.
Aubree Caya scored at 8:37 to make it 1-0.
Ella Opie's goal off
Catherine Arnold's assist at 15:23 extended the lead to 2-0 while
Jillian Sawadski scored at 22:32 for a 3-0 advantage.
Caya scored her second goal of the game at 47:05 on Sawadski's assist and a 4-0 lead.
Sera Speltz scored at 66:32 to make it 5-0 and
Ailsa Erskine finished the scoring at 78:07.
UWL finished with 20 shots in the game, including 15 on goal. Caya led the team with six shots, all coming on goal while Opie, Sawadski, Speltz,
Katelyn Studebaker and
Grace Williams each finished with two shots. Both of Sawadski's shots were on goal.
The Eagles had 11 corner kicks.
Summer Nicolai and
Robin Blair combined on the shutout for UWL with Nicolai earning the victory while registering five saves. It is the Eagles' eighth shutout of the season.
UW-River Falls recorded nine shots on Wednesday with five on goal. Ellie Ketcher finished with four shots, two coming on goal. The Falcons were held to two corner kicks.
Courtney Bain took the loss, finishing with nine saves.
UWL returns to action Saturday, October 4 at UW-Stevens Point at 1 p.m.
