UW-Oshkosh Outscores UW-Stout to Reach First WIAC Final

Box Score

     After a first half that featured a frantic flurry of goals, UW-Oshkosh finally took control over UW-Stout and advanced to its first-ever Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women�s soccer tournament championship with a 5-3 decision over the Blue Devils on Friday in Stevens Point.

     The Titans extended their unbeaten streak to a school-record 10 straight matches and will take on host UW-Stevens Point in the title match on Saturday at 1 p.m. UW-Oshkosh had lost in the semifinals the past four years and is led by first-year coach Erin Leinweber, who played on UW-Stevens Point�s 1994 and 1995 championship teams. The Pointers have qualified for all 13 tournament championship matches and have won seven straight titles. The winner of Saturday�s match advances to the NCAA Division III tournament.

     By halftime on Friday, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stout had already combined for the highest-scoring match in the semifinal or final round of the WIAC tournament with a 3-3 stalemate. UW-Stout�s three goals were the highest for a losing team in any WIAC tournament contest.

     In a 33-minute span from the 19th minute to the 52nd minute, the teams scored seven goals, including one at least every eight minutes. UW-Oshkosh jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals four minutes apart as Nicole Kunick scored on a breakaway and Melissa Gruber headed in a corner kick. Four minutes later, UW-Stout also scored a pair of goals four minutes apart as Carrie Schrank blasted an open shot from 15 yards out and Shannon Hermes headed in a cross just inside the post.

     The outbreak continued less than five minutes later when UW-Oshkosh regained the lead as Nikki Goes slid a pass through the defense that Mandy Vinje collected and finished on a wide open shot. The Blue Devils tied the match just before halftime when Hermes made a nifty move around a Titan defender and scored with 27 seconds left, giving UW-Stout apparent momentum heading into halftime.

     However, the Titans controlled the second half, firing five shots in the first seven minutes, including the go-ahead goal by Kunick, who scored on a breakaway similar to her first goal off a long pass from Maggie Hoffman. Melissa Ballweg kept the Blue Devils in the match with 13 saves, including 10 in the second half. The Titans added an insurance goal with 5:17 left when Kunick headed a ball to Gruber, who scored for the second time to match her season total.

     UW-Stout managed two shots in the final four minutes as the Titans held a 16-2 advantage on shots in the second half and 28-7 for the match.