Titans Host Warhawks In WIAC Soccer Championship Final
The UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater women's soccer teams renew their WIAC postseason rivalry when they meet Saturday (Nov. 7) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium for the championship of the league's year-ending tournament.
Saturday's contest marks the third consecutive year and fourth time in five seasons that the teams have played for both the WIAC tournament title and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship.
The teams swapped 1-0 victories during each of the past two title matchups, with UW-Oshkosh winning last year and UW-Whitewater in 2013. In 2011, the squads played to a 1-1 tie, but UW-Oshkosh outscored the Warhawks, 4-3, in a penalty kick shootout to punch its ticket to the NCAA's postseason spectacle.
Christina Mauthe's goal during the 14th minute of play held up as top-seed and WIAC regular-season co-champion UW-Oshkosh (14-3-2) advanced to Saturday's title game with a 1-0 victory over fifth-seeded UW-Eau Claire on Thursday. The Titans received a bye in the opening round of the six-team tournament.
Third-seeded UW-Whitewater (16-4) qualified for the championship match with Tuesday's 4-0 victory over sixth-seeded UW-Stout and Thursday's 1-0, double-overtime triumph over second-seeded and regular-season co-champion UW-La Crosse. Marie Lesperance gave the Warhawks their win over UW-La Crosse on a goal with 6:34 remaining in the second and final extra session.
UW-Oshkosh has gone 12-1-2 in its last 15 matches to rank 25th in the country by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The Titans lead the WIAC with 374 shots and 15 goals allowed while ranking second with eight shutouts and 45 goals.
UW-Whitewater has compiled a 51-9-4 record the past two-plus campaigns with WIAC regular-season titles in both 2013 and 2014. The Warhawks pace the league with 62 goals and nine shutouts while ranking second with 19 goals allowed.
UW-Oshkosh is led by the eight goals from Mauthe and the seven from both Robyn Elliott and Alek Kleis. Nina Muzi has guarded the Titans' goal for all but 90 minutes this season and has recorded six shutouts with a conference-leading 0.81 goals against average.
UW-Whitewater's Brianna Reid has scored 18 goals this season to lead the WIAC and rank 25th in the NCAA Division III. Her nine game-winning goals are the most in the country.
The Warhawks' potent offense also features 10 goals from Carly Pottle, eight from Karina Rosales and six from Lesperance. Erin Doody has protected the UW-Whitewater net for all but 76 minutes this season and has marked six shutouts with a 0.96 goals against average.
Saturday's contest is the 30th between the teams. UW-Oshkosh has won the last two meetings, including a 2-1 decision on Oct. 28, to lead a series that dates back to 1993 by a 14-12-3 count.
The official list of participants for this year's NCAA Division III Championship will be announced on Monday (Nov. 9).