Titans To Host Second-Ranked Maroons

The UW-Oshkosh women's soccer team faces a stern test when it hosts highly ranked University of Chicago (Ill.) on Saturday (Sept. 23). The contest begins at 2 p.m. from J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

University of Chicago (7-0), ranked second in the NCAA Division III by the United Soccer Coaches, has outscored its opponents this season by a combined 30-3 score. The Maroons advanced to the semifinal round of last year's NCAA Championship.

UW-Oshkosh (3-3-1) has posted shutouts in each of its three wins this year, including both of its past two contests.

University of Chicago has won all four of the previous matchups with the Titans by one goal. The Maroons defeated UW-Oshkosh, 1-0, in the first meeting in 2012. University of Chicago has since claimed decisions of 2-1 in overtime in 2013, 1-0 in double overtime in 2014 and 2-1 in 2015. 

This season, UW-Oshkosh opened with a scoreless tie at Goucher College (Md.) and 1-0 setbacks at both Stevenson University (Md.) and Central College (Iowa). The Titans then earned a 1-0 victory at Grinnell College (Iowa) before losing their home opener, 3-0, to Carthage College. UW-Oshkosh responded with a 3-0 home win over University of Dubuque (Iowa) last Saturday (Sept. 16) and a 4-0 triumph at Marian University on Wednesday (Sept. 20). 

University of Chicago's dominant start to the 2017 season includes a 3-0 win at 10th-ranked Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.) and a 7-1 home victory over Carthage College on Wednesday. The Maroons have not trailed in a match this season.

Six Titans have scored goals this season. Kendra Jepson and Alek Kleis pace UW-Oshkosh with two goals apiece while Taylor Arnold, Mallory Knight, Maddie Morris and Fiona Neary each have one. Addie Schmitz and Hannah Zacher have accounted for the two UW-Oshkosh's assists.

Jessica Galason and Madelyn Runyan have shared goalkeeping duties for a UW-Oshkosh squad that owns a 0.69 goals-against average. Galason has made a team-leading 29 saves while compiling a 2-3-1 record and a 0.79 goals-against average. Runyan, who owns a 1-0 record, has 14 saves and 0.67 goals-against average.

University of Chicago is led by 2016 All-Americans Mia Calamari and Jenna McKinney. Calamari, D3soccer.com's Midfielder of the Year last season, has one goal and a team-leading six assists while McKinney, an All-America First Team midfielder, has a team-best five goals with two assists.

The high-scoring Maroons have also received four goals apiece from Madori and Adrianna Vera, and three goals from Katie Jasminski. University of Chicago has launched 105 shots on goal while limiting its opponents to just nine.

In goal, University of Chicago has recorded four shutouts behind the efforts of Miranda Malone and Katie Donovan. Malone has produced a 2-0 record with two saves and a 0.28 goals-against average while Donovan is 5-0 with two saves and a 0.33 goals-against average. 

In addition to its semifinal appearance last season, University of Chicago was also the national runner-up in 2003. The Maroons, who finished third in the University Athletic Association standings a year ago, have made 16 NCAA postseason trips, including each of the past four seasons.

UW-Oshkosh has four NCAA Championship appearances, including consecutive visits in 2014 and 2015. The Titans also qualified for the NCAA postseason in 2006 and 2011. Last year, UW-Oshkosh was a fourth-place finisher in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

UW-Oshkosh remains at home to host St. Norbert College on Wednesday (Sept. 30).