Free Kick, Defense Lead Titans To Final Four

A perfectly executed free kick by Tim Stadler (Jr. • Wauwatosa) and another stellar defensive effort put the UW-Oshkosh men's soccer team in the Final Four of the NCAA Division III Championship.

UW-Oshkosh (20-0-3) advanced to the semifinal round of the 60-team tournament after defeating last year's national runner-up Calvin College (Mich.), 1-0, on Saturday (Nov. 20) at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

UW-Oshkosh, which made Final Four appearances in 1994, 2000 and 2003, will play two-time defending national champion Messiah College (Pa.) in the semifinals on Dec. 3 at the Blossom Sports Complex in San Antonio, Texas. The Falcons (21-1), who are appearing in the semifinals for the seventh consecutive year, defeated the United States Merchant Marine Academy (N.Y.), 3-0, in a quarterfinal round contest held Sunday (Nov. 21).

Joining UW-Oshkosh and Messiah College in the semifinals are Bowdoin College (Maine) (15-1-4) and Lynchburg College (Va.) (19-4-1). Semifinal round winners will play for the national championship on Dec. 4 at the Blossom Soccer Complex.

Stadler broke a scoreless tussle between UW-Oshkosh and Calvin College (16-3-5) with his free kick in the 61st minute (60:53) of action.

Following a foul to UW-Oshkosh's Robby Giljohann (Jr. • Pewaukee) near the top of the penalty box area, Stadler drilled a low 23-yard kick past a wall of Calvin College defenders and into the corner of the net. It was Stadler's team-leading 12th goal of the season, including his seventh match winner.

Calvin College threatened twice to tie the score in the final 20 minutes of play, but shots by Miles Colago and Scott Hooker sailed over the UW-Oshkosh goal.

UW-Oshkosh attempted 13 shots, including seven in the first half. The Titans had five of their shots saved by Calvin College goalkeeper Ryan Bratt and two more by a Knight defender. UW-Oshkosh was led by the four shots of Mike Franzen (Sr. • Sussex) and the two of both Giljohann and Stadler.

UW-Oshkosh limited Calvin College to just six shots as it recorded its school-record 19th shutout of the season. The Knights, who were handcuffed by the defensive pressure applied by the UW-Oshkosh back line of Jack Borski (Sr. • Madison), Will Chaney (Jr. • Cedarburg) and Andy Kohel (Sr. • Racine), had two of their shots saved by Titan goalkeeper James Pike (Jr. • Wauwatosa).

UW-Oshkosh entered the contest ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Calvin College 17th.