Titans Play Through A Snow Shower To Defeat Cardinals
Five different players had goals as UW-Oshkosh achieved its highest scoring output of the season during a 5-1 nonconference victory over the North Central College (Ill.) women's soccer team on Wednesday (Oct. 30) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.
UW-Oshkosh (7-9-1) took a quick 3-0 lead over its first-time opponent with goals during the first nine minutes of play. The Titans scored again in the 21st and 79th minute before North Central College (9-8-1) created the contest's final result with a goal in the 87th.
Delaney Karl started the scoring for UW-Oshkosh with her goal just 2:56 into play. Her 35-yard score followed a pass from Addie Schmitz. The goal was Karl's second of the season.
Mallory Knight doubled UW-Oshkosh's lead with her unassisted score from 10 yards out during the eighth minute (7:15). The goal for Knight was her team-leading sixth of the season.
It didn't take long for the Titans to increase their lead to 3-0 as Rylie Kaufmann scored off a pass from Knight in the ninth minute (8:46). Kaufmann's score from 15 yards out was her third of the year.
Schmitz then closed the game's first-half scoring with her goal during the 21st minute (20:54). Her 10-yard score followed a pass from Maddie Morris. The goal for Schmitz was her fifth of the season.
Snow began to fall shortly after the goal from Schmitz and the result left the teams playing on a covered field for the final 65 minutes of play.
The snow didn't slow UW-Oshkosh down as the Titans upped their lead to 5-0 on a goal by Mariah Matthews during the game's 79th minute (78:54). Matthews' 5-yard score off a cross from Alyssa Gunderson marked her second goal of the season.
North Central College avoided being shut out when Aly Crum scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season with 3:50 (86:10) to play. Crum's 10-yard kick, which followed a pass from Allyson Viederis, entered the net after bouncing off the post.
North Central College posted advantages of 26-14 in shots and 5-3 in corner kicks.
The Cardinals were led by the five shots from both Crum and Kily Egan and the four from Sara Sheridan. Morris and Schmitz paced the Titans with three shots apiece.
UW-Oshkosh freshman goalkeeper Leah Hujik saved 11 shots during her first action of the season. Hujik denied five North Central College shots in the first half and six in the second.
North Central College split its goalkeeping duties as Angel Bionda guarded the Cardinal goal in the first half and Emma Duncan in the second. Duncan owned all three of the team's saves.
UW-Oshkosh concludes its regular season on Saturday (Nov. 2) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium against UW-Platteville. A win over the Pioneers secures a spot for the Titans in the six-team WIAC Championship that begins play on Tuesday (Nov. 5).
Photo courtesy of Terri Cole.