Titans Move To WIAC Championship Semifinal With Overtime Win
Senior Kaitlyn Schauer's third collegiate goal will be a memorable one as it gave UW-Oshkosh a 3-2 overtime victory over UW-River Falls in an opening round contest of the WIAC Women's Soccer Championship held Tuesday (Oct. 31) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.
Schauer, who tallied just two goals in her previous 72 matches as a Titan, recorded her game-ending score against the Falcons on a 5-yard kick during the ninth minute (98:31) of overtime. Schauer's goal, her first of the season, came off a short pass from Addie Schmitz.
With the win, third-seeded UW-Oshkosh (8-7-4) advances to play Thursday (Nov. 2) at second-seeded UW-Whitewater (13-3-3) in the semifinals. The other WIAC Championship semifinal on Thursday involves fourth-seeded UW-Stout (9-5-5) visiting top-seeded and UW-La Crosse (16-1-2). UW-Stout qualified for the semifinals with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over fifth-seeded UW-Stevens Point (9-8-2) on Tuesday.
The semifinal winners will meet in the WIAC Championship final on Saturday (Nov. 4).
The winner of the WIAC Championship secures the league's automatic berth into the 64-team NCAA Division III Championship that begins Nov. 10.
Sixth-seeded UW-River Falls (5-14-1) scored in the fifth minute (4:59) of Tuesday's match to take a quick 1-0 lead over UW-Oshkosh. Maggie Koehler recorded the 20-yard score for the Falcons after playing a ball served from Mariah Troje.
UW-Oshkosh's early deficit didn't last long as Schmitz tied the score 107 seconds later (6:46) with a 10-yard kick. Schmitz registered her second goal of the season with the help of an Alexis Brewer pass.
UW-River Falls, which played to a 1-1 tie with UW-Oshkosh on Sept. 30, regained the lead at 2-1 on a 10-yard kick by Kayla Windingstad during the 27th minute (26:20) of activity. Windingstad's score was set up by a pass from Carrie Anderson.
The Falcons took their 2-1 lead to intermission and held the advantage until UW-Oshkosh's Kendra Jepson headed a 5-yard shot in net during the 59th minute (58:11). Jepson's team-leading fifth goal of the season followed a serve from Schmitz.
The teams closed the second half by combining for 17 shots, including seven that were saved by UW-Oshkosh goalkeeper Jessica Galason. Galason finished the match with 13 saves compared to just three for UW-River Falls goalie Haley Crosby.
UW-River Falls compiled advantages of 26-15 in shots, 15-6 in shots on goal and 3-2 in corner kicks. The Falcons launched 13 shots and the Titans nine during the second period.
Schmitz led UW-Oshkosh's shot count with five while Jepson followed with four and Ashley Baalke two.
Five Falcons propelled multiple shots at the UW-Oshkosh goal, including Windingstad who sailed 11 and Anderson and Abby Soderholm who discharged four apiece.
UW-Oshkosh advances to the WIAC Championship semifinals for the fifth straight season. The Titans will take on a UW-Whitewater squad that it defeated 1-0 on Oct. 4 in Oshkosh. The Warhawks are the two-time defending WIAC tournament champion.