Titans Win WIAC Tournament Opener In Overtime
Alek Kleis converted a penalty kick during the eighth minute of overtime to give UW-Oshkosh a 3-2 victory over UW-Stout in a first round match of the WIAC Women's Soccer Championship held Tuesday (Nov. 1) in Menomonie.
Kleis earned her match-winning opportunity following a UW-Stout handball in the penalty box area. Her fourth goal of the season was scored on her lone shot of the contest.
Fifth-seeded UW-Oshkosh (10-8-1) advances to play WIAC regular season champion and top-seeded UW-Whitewater (18-1) in the semifinal round of the six-team league tournament on Thursday (Nov. 3) in Whitewater. It will be team's second meeting of the season, with the Warhawks posting a 3-2 overtime win over the Titans on Oct. 5 in Whitewater. UW-Whitewater is ranked sixth in the NCAA Division III by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
In Tuesday's other first round match, third-seeded UW-Eau Claire (8-8-2) defeated sixth-seeded UW-River Falls (7-10-2), 2-0. The Blugolds will visit second-seeded UW-La Crosse (13-4) on Thursday for their semifinal round game.
The semifinal winners will then meet on Saturday (Nov. 5) at the site of highest remaining seed for the league's automatic berth into the 64-team NCAA Division III Championship.
Fourth-seeded UW-Stout (6-11-2) took a 1-0 lead over UW-Oshkosh when Kelly Conn finished a penalty kick during the 36th minute (35:35) of play. She gained the kick after UW-Oshkosh was called for a handball in the penalty box area.
The Blue Devils held their advantage until UW-Oshkosh's Rachel Elliott scored off a pass from AJ Jackson in the 49th minute (48:14). The goal was Elliott's team-leading sixth of the season.
The contest became tied once again following goals by each team during the final three minutes of the second half.
UW-Stout grabbed a 2-1 lead when Sydney Kasper scored off a pass from Ryanne Millis with 2:26 (87:34) left in the period. The Blue Devils' advantage was short-lived as Rachel Elliott scored her second goal of the match off another pass from Jackson just 28 seconds later (88:02). Elliott's seventh goal of the season also marked the 20th score of her career.
Both teams got off a shot in overtime as Rachel Elliott's kick was saved by UW-Stout goalkeeper Lynn Johnson in the 91st minute and Millis' boot in the 95th went wide of the UW-Oshkosh goal.
Kleis substituted in seconds after Millis' shot and, two minutes later, placed her kick low and underneath and to Johnson's right for the win.
UW-Oshkosh, which suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to UW-Stout on Oct. 15 in Oshkosh, edged the Blue Devils in shots, 18-17. Both teams earned five corner kick opportunities.
UW-Oshkosh's shot count featured seven by Rachel Elliott, five by Robyn Elliott and two from Ashley Baalke.
UW-Stout received five of its shots from Millis and three each from Conn, Kasper and Sarah Todey.
UW-Oshkosh goalkeeper Madelyn Runyan saved six UW-Stout shots, including four in the second half. Johnson recorded four of her eight saves of UW-Oshkosh shots in the first half.
UW-Oshkosh is playing in the semifinal round of the WIAC Championship for the fourth consecutive year. The Titans won the league's postseason event in 2011 and 2014.
Photo courtesy of Layne Pitt, UW-Stout Sports Information