Titans Denied Win By Pointers
UW-Stevens Point used a pair of quick goals and a stingy defense to defeat UW-Oshkosh, 3-1, in a women's soccer match held Wednesday (Oct. 23) in Stevens Point.
The Pointers (10-3-2, 4-1 WIAC) scored twice in the first 18 minutes of action on goals from Kati Frierdich and Gracie Wendels.
Frierdich tallied her team-leading seventh goal of the season in the game's 12th minute (11:41) to give UW-Stevens Point a 1-0 advantage. Her goal followed a pass from Meaghan Ambelang.
In the 18th minute (17:39), Wendels scored off consecutive passes from Maddy Hardyman and Bridget Kauzlaric to double UW-Stevens Point's lead. The goal for Wendels was her fourth of the year.
UW-Oshkosh (6-8-1, 2-3 WIAC) got one goal back on a score from Rylie Kaufmann in the contest's 22nd minute (21:12). Kaufmann's second goal of the season was scored from close range after she won a scramble for the ball following a corner kick launched by Delaney Karl.
UW-Stevens Point held its 2-1 lead until Jacqueline Aleman scored an unassisted goal in the game's 53rd minute (52:13). The goal by Aleman was her second of the season.
UW-Oshkosh was limited to just four other shots besides Kaufmann's score, including Ashley Baalke's kick that was saved UW-Stevens Point goalkeeper Miranda Nieman in the 40th minute. Nieman faced only two shots in the match, Kaufman's score and Baalke's kick.
Two of the three remaining UW-Oshkosh shots belonged to Karl and the other to Maddie Morris.
UW-Stevens Point totaled 11 shots, including three apiece from Aleman and Frierdich, while earning four of the contest's five corner kicks. The Pointers entered the match averaging a WIAC-leading 19.43 shots per game.
UW-Oshkosh goalkeeper Madelyn Runyan allowed all three goals and recorded a save off a kick from UW-Stevens Point's Frierdich in the 22nd minute.
UW-Oshkosh travels to UW-River Falls on Saturday (Oct. 23) for another WIAC contest. A win by the Titans would secure a spot for UW-Oshkosh in the upcoming six-team WIAC Championship.