Titans To Receive Visit From Nationally Ranked Warhawks

The UW-Oshkosh women's soccer team begins a string of three consecutive home matches by hosting defending WIAC champion and nationally ranked UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (Oct. 4). The contest is set for 7 p.m. at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium and the first 250 fans attending the match will receive a FREE UW-Oshkosh string backpack.

Both UW-Oshkosh (3-5-2, 0-0-1 WIAC) and UW-Whitewater (7-1-3, 0-0-1) are seeking their first league victory after playing to 1-1 ties on Saturday (Sept. 30). UW-Oshkosh battled to a stalemate at UW-River Falls while UW-Whitewater fought to a standoff at UW-Stout.

UW-Whitewater owns a slim 15-14-3 advantage in the series with UW-Oshkosh, including wins in the last three meetings, while UW-Oshkosh has outscored the Warhawks, 43-38, since the series began in 1993. Seven of the past eight matchups between the teams have been decided by one goal.

UW-Oshkosh enters Wednesday's match with nine goals in 11 games this season. UW-Whitewater, ranked 18th in the NCAA Division III by the United Soccer Coaches, has outscored its opponents, 25-9, on the year. The Titans have posted shutouts in each of their three wins while the Warhawks have recorded five shutouts on the season.

The Titans began the year with a 0-2-1 record but have rebounded to compile a 3-3-1 mark over its past seven contests, including wins of 3-0 over University of Dubuque (Iowa) and 4-0 over Marian University and a 3-0 setback to then-second-ranked University of Chicago (Ill.).

The Warhawks produced three shutouts in their first four games as they opened the season with a 4-0-2 record. UW-Whitewater lost, 1-0, to then-top-ranked Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) on Sept. 17 before winning three straight games ahead of its tie in the league opener.

Last season, UW-Whitewater beat the Titans, 3-2, in overtime during the regular season and eliminated UW-Oshkosh from the WIAC Championship by a 3-1 score in the semifinal round. The Titans' last victories over the Warhawks were a 2-1 double-overtime decision in 2015 and a 1-0 triumph in the final of the 2014 WIAC Championship.

Kendra Jepson and Alek Kleis lead UW-Oshkosh with two goals apiece while Jepson, Kleis and Mallory Knight have accounted for the Titans' game-winning scores. Addie Schmitz, who paces UW-Oshkosh with 10 shots on goal, has one goal and one assist.

Jessica Galason and Madelyn Runyan have shared goalkeeping duties for UW-Oshkosh, which leads the WIAC with 71 saves. Galason owns a 2-4-2 record with 51 saves and a 1.17 goals-against average while Runyan has produced a 1-1 mark with 20 saves and a 1.00 goals-against average.

UW-Whitewater's Anna Boyd has six goals and three assists. Warhawk Karina Rosales has four goals and four assists and Morgan Beaty three goals and one assist. Rosales owns a WIAC-leading three game-winning goals.

Sara Klimisch has guarded the UW-Whitewater goal for the majority of the season, recording a 5-1-3 record with 29 saves and a 0.76 goals-against average, while Nina Yonan has produced a 2-0 record with four saves and a 0.78 goals-against average.

UW-Whitewater claimed its sixth WIAC title a year ago before advancing to third round of the NCAA Division III Championship. UW-Oshkosh was the WIAC co-champion in 2015.

UW-Oshkosh concludes its homestand with matches on Saturday (Oct. 7) against UW-Platteville and next Wednesday (Oct. 11) against Lawrence University.