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Jan Nachtigall's ninth goal of the season put UW-Oshkosh ahead 1-0
Jan Nachtigall's ninth goal of the season put UW-Oshkosh ahead 1-0

Titans Defeated In Title Match Of WIAC Championship

UW-Oshkosh tasted defeat for the first time this season when it lost a 2-1 decision to UW-Superior in the title match of the WIAC Men's Soccer Championship held Friday (Nov. 8) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

The Yellowjackets (12-6-3) captured their first WIAC title after finishing third in the league's regular-season standings with a 2-1-1 record. UW-Superior defeated second-place UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (Nov. 6) and then first-place UW-Oshkosh to win a tournament that determined the WIAC's overall champion for the first time in league history. The WIAC began sponsoring men's soccer as a championship sport in 2009.

Despite the loss, UW-Oshkosh (15-1-4) is expected to be the lone WIAC team to receive an invitation when selections to the 61-team NCAA Division III Championship are announced on Monday (Nov. 11). The Titans, who entered Friday's contest ranked fifth in country by the National Soccer Coaches Association of American, were NCAA Division III postseason participants in 1991, 1993-96, 1999-2003, 2007 and 2010.

UW-Superior scored its winning goal against UW-Oshkosh during the 79th minute (78:51) of play. Brian Grand was the hero for the Yellowjackets as he followed a pass from Ben Royce with a 12-yard kick into the net.

UW-Oshkosh, which played to a 1-1 tie with UW-Superior on Sept. 28, took a 1-0 lead on Jan Nachtigall's nine-yard kick during the 18th minute (17:58). His ninth goal of the season came off a long pass from Tony Starnes.

UW-Superior tied the score on a penalty kick by Alberto Rivero-Garcia in the game's 54th minute (53:19). The penalty kick was the result of a handball by a UW-Oshkosh player in the 18-yard box.

UW-Oshkosh tallied advantages of 17-6 in shots and 6-1 in corner kicks. Kirby Allen and Chris Kurth both had four shots for the Titans, while Nachtigall and Ryan Redmond had two each. The Yellowjackets were led by the three shots from Grand.

UW-Oshkosh goalkeeper Sam Gabrilska saved three shots, including two in the first half. UW-Superior goalkeeper totaled six saves, with five of them coming in the second period.

Friday's loss marked the end of UW-Oshkosh's 10-game winning streak.