The Titans' Nicole Palmquist tied the score at one
The Titans' Nicole Palmquist tied the score at one

Blugolds Hand Titans First Loss Of Season

UW-Eau Claire scored three goals in a span of 10 minutes to pull away and defeat the nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh women's soccer team, 4-2, on Saturday (Sept. 29) in Eau Claire.

The loss was the first of the season for the Titans (7-1-2/2-1-1 WIAC) and just the third in their last 23 contests (14-3-6 record). UW-Oshkosh entered the match ranked 14th in the NCAA Division III by D3soccer.com and 15th by the National Soccer Coaches Association.

UW-Eau Claire (5-4-1/3-1 WIAC) took a 1-0 lead as Paige LaGate scored off a pass from Gina Williams in the 11th minute (10:31) of play.

The teams went to intermission tied 1-1 following a penalty kick by UW-Oshkosh's Nicole Palmquist (So. • Oshkosh) in the contest's 18th minute (17:58). It was the first goal of the season for Palmquist.

During the 52nd minute (51:34), UW-Eau Claire was awarded a penalty kick and Williams buried the shot to give the Blugolds a lead that they would never relinquish. Less than a minute later (52:22), Williams scored off a pass from LeGate to give the Blugolds a 3-1 advantage.

UW-Eau Claire, which defeated top-ranked Wheaton College (Ill.) on Sept. 19, sealed its fourth straight victory on a goal by Katie Richter in the game's 62nd minute (61:30). Williams and Ashley Seymour assisted on the goal.

UW-Oshkosh cut its deficit in half on Kiley Hauck's (Jr, • Hubertus) unassisted goal with 4:37 remaining. It was the second goal of the season for Hauck.

UW-Eau Claire had a 15-12 advantage in shots. The six shots of Williams and four of Richter led the Blugolds. Amanda Baalke (So. • Pewaukee) and Ashley Nicholas (Jr. • Wrightstown) paced the Titans with three shots each.

UW-Oshkosh goalkeeper Katie Berkopec (Jr. • Apple Valley, Minn.) saved seven shots while allowing all four goals.

Nina Behrenbrinker guarded the UW-Eau Claire goal for the first 78:52 of the match and made one save. Amanda Hakala replaced Behrenbrinker and tallied two saves during the final 11:08 of play. Both UW-Eau Claire goalkeepers gave up one goal.

UW-Oshkosh travels to De Pere for a match against St. Norbert College on Tuesday (Oct. 2).