Titans Return To NCAA Postseason Tournament
An own goal with 4:51 remaining gave UW-Oshkosh a 1-0 victory over regular-season champion and nationally ranked UW-Whitewater in the title match of the WIAC Women's Soccer Championship held Saturday (Nov. 8) in Whitewater.
The win gave UW-Oshkosh the WIAC's automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA Division III Championship, which begins play next weekend (Nov. 14-16) with 32 first-round and 16 second-round contests. UW-Oshkosh will find out its opponent, date and site of its first-round match during a selection show televised on NCAA.com at noon on Monday (Nov. 10).
UW-Oshkosh (12-7-1) will be appearing in the NCAA Division III Championship for the third time. The Titans previously participated in the tournament in 2006 and 2011.
UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater (18-3) were engaged in a scoreless scuffle until the game's 86th minute (85:09). That is when a UW-Oshkosh ball was challenged in a crowded penalty box area and was inadvertently headed backwards into the goal by a UW-Whitewater defender.
UW-Oshkosh, which suffered a 1-0 loss to UW-Whitewater on Oct. 15, was strong on the offensive attack throughout the match.
The Titans attempted 12 shots in the opening period, with four of them saved by UW-Whitewater goalkeeper Jordan Myers during the 13th, 15th, 32nd and 41st minute of play. The Warhawks launched five shots in the first half, including two that were saved by UW-Oshkosh goalkeeper Angela Christensen during the 24th and 29th minute of action.
UW-Oshkosh dominated the flow of play in the second half as well. The Titans attempted 11 of the period's 14 shots, including a blast by Christina Mauthe that Myers hit up off the cross bar and grabbed for a save in the 67th minute. Myers went on to stop UW-Oshkosh one shot in the 70th, 72nd and 80th minute and two in the 90th.
UW-Oshkosh owned advantages of 23-8 in shots, 11-2 in shots on goal and 7-2 in corner kicks. Rachel Elliott led the Titans with seven shots, while twin-sister Robyn Elliott launched six and Amanda Baalke three. Jordan Jackson, Brianna Reid and Jenna Woodson paced the Warhawks with two shots apiece.
Christensen finished the contest with two goalkeeping saves and Myers 10. It was the first career shutout for Christensen, who has started for an injured Nina Muzi the past two matches.
UW-Whitewater, which entered the contest ranked ninth in the NCAA Division III, had its school-record 15-game winning streak end with the defeat.
Photo courtesy of the UW-Whitewater sports information office