Shootout Victory Allows Titans To Advance In WIAC Tournament

UW-Oshkosh scored a tying goal in the final minutes of regulation and then made three of its four shots during the penalty kick shootout to defeat UW-Eau Claire in a first-round match of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Soccer Tournament held Tuesday (Nov. 1) at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

UW-Oshkosh (11-6-2) advances to play UW-La Crosse (10-5-2) in the semifinals on Thursday (Nov. 3) in La Crosse. It will be the team's second meeting of the season, with the Eagles posting a 1-0 victory over the Titans on Oct. 1 in La Crosse.

In Tuesday's other first-round match, UW-Stevens Point (11-7) edged UW-Stout (11-5-1), 1-0. The Pointers will visit UW-Whitewater (12-4-1) on Thursday for their semifinal round contest. Semifinal round winners meet Saturday (Nov. 5) at the site of the highest remaining seed for the WIAC's automatic bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championship.

Following two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods, UW-Oshkosh kept its season alive with a 3-2 victory in the penalty kick shootout. Nicole Strieker (Jr. • Janesville) scored the Titans' decisive goal in the bottom of the fourth round and goalkeeper Brittany Walder (Sr. • Waukesha) sealed the victory with a save in the top of the fifth. Walder also saved a shot in the fourth round.

Other goals in the shootout went to UW-Oshkosh's Kelsey Spaith (Sr. • Madison) in the first round and Nikki Reed (Sr. • Muskego) in the second. UW-Eau Claire (10-6-4) scored on goals by Rachel Nerison in the first round and Brittany Burant in the third.

UW-Oshkosh sent the contest to overtime on Spaith's 20-yard kick with 3:11 left in regulation. Spaith's second goal of the season came on her only shot of the match.

UW-Eau Claire, which dropped a 3-1 decision to UW-Oshkosh on Sept. 24, took a quick 1-0 lead on Burant's eight-yard kick just 4:48 into play.

UW-Oshkosh finished the match with 11 shots, including six in the second half, and seven corner kicks. Jessica Erny (Sr. • Wauwatosa) had three shots and Chelsea Kierszh (So. • Oshkosh) and Amanda Baalke (Fr. • Pewaukee) two each for the Titans.

UW-Eau Claire ended the game with 13 shots, including seven in the second half, and five corner kicks. The Blugolds were led by the five shots from Burant and the two of both Katie Richter and Gina Williams.

Both goalkeepers were active as Walder saved seven shots for UW-Oshkosh and Nina Behrenbrinker four for UW-Eau Claire.