Titans Earn WIAC Postseason Berth With Win Over Pioneers

Mallory Knight scored three goals for her first career hat trick as UW-Oshkosh earned a berth into the upcoming WIAC Women's Soccer Championship (presented by Culver's) with a 4-0 victory over UW-Platteville on Saturday (Nov. 2) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium. The contest closed the regular season for both squads.

Knight, who owns a team-leading nine goals on the season, scored for UW-Oshkosh during the game's 22nd (21:43), 53rd (52:23) and 63rd (62:29) minute of action. She became the first Titan to record a hat trick since Caitlin Casey scored three goals against UW-Superior on October 10, 2009.

Knight gave UW-Oshkosh (8-9-1, 3-4 WIAC) a 1-0 lead on her goal in the 22nd minute. Her 10-yard kick followed consecutive passes from Addie Schmitz and Delaney Karl.

Knight then doubled the Titans' advantage when she scored off a cross from Rylie Kaufmann in the 53rd minute. Knight's goal was scored on a 5-yard kick.

Maddie Morris put UW-Oshkosh ahead 3-0 when she converted a penalty kick during the 54th minute (53:51). Morris earned the kick after a UW-Oshkosh player was tackled deep in the penalty box area. The goal for Morris was her first since the 2017-18 season.

Knight closed the scoring for UW-Oshkosh with her 20-yard kick during the 63rd minute. Knight's score followed a pass from Alyssa Gunderson.

UW-Oshkosh defeated UW-Platteville for the 22nd time in 27 meetings (22-4-1 record) by totaling 23 shots, 13 shots on goal and eight corner kicks. The Titans were led by the six shots from Knight and the three apiece from Karl, Morris and Schmitz.

UW-Platteville (2-15-2, 1-5-1 WIAC) was limited to eight shots, five shots on goal and just one corner kick. Taylor Gamble led the Pioneers, who were shut out for the 14th time this season, with three shots.

UW-Oshkosh goalkeeper Madelyn Runyan recorded five saves. She blocked three UW-Platteville shots in the first half and two in the second. It was the second shutout of the season for Runyan and the seventh of her career.

UW-Platteville goalkeeper Kathryn Flaherty stopped eight UW-Oshkosh shots, including five in the second half. The Pioneers also had a team save.

UW-Oshkosh finished fifth in this year's chase for the WIAC title after tying for fourth place a year ago. UW-Whitewater compiled a 5-2-1 conference record (12-5-3 overall) to win its first league title since 2016 and seventh overall.

Saturday's victory over UW-Platteville gave UW-Oshkosh the fifth seed for the six-team WIAC Championship that begins play on Tuesday (Nov. 5). The Titans open play at two-time defending tournament champion UW-La Crosse (11-6-2 record), which defeated UW-Oshkosh by a 2-0 result on Oct. 5 in La Crosse.

Tuesday's other first-round match has third-seeded UW-Eau Claire (14-5 record) hosting sixth-seeded UW-River Falls (9-9-1).

Top-seeded UW-Whitewater and second-seeded UW-Stevens Point (11-4-2 record) both earned byes and will host semifinal round contests on Thursday (Nov. 7).

The final of the WIAC Championship will be held at the site of the highest remaining seed next Saturday (Nov. 9). 

UW-Oshkosh has appeared in the WIAC Championship every year since 1993, compiling a 14-24-3 record. The Titans won WIAC tournament titles in 2011 and 2014.