WHEATON, IL - The UW-Eau Claire soccer team battled with Augustana College for 110 scoreless minutes before the Blugolds finally came out on top in sudden death penalty kicks 4-3 to advance to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament.

The Blugolds were in control in the first half out-shooting the Vikings 11-2, but were unable to get one past the goalkeeper. The Vikings came back and out-shot the Blugolds in the second half 7-1. Allie Rivard (Fr.-Wayzata, MN) had four big saves to keep the match scoreless and the match went into overtime.

The Blugolds had four shots on goal in the first overtime, but still were unable to score and the match went to a second overtime. The Blugolds could only muster one shot on goal in the second overtime and that too was stopped.

With the match still scoreless after the second overtime, the match went to a penalty kick shootout. Each team had five kicks apiece and the team with the highest total would advance. The Blugolds first two kickers Megan Drews (Jr.-Wauwatosa/East) and Marcia Foltz (Sr.-Madison/Memorial) each did their part, but so did Augustana and each team had two goals going on to the third set of kickers.

After the Blugolds missed on their attempt, Liz Weirick (So.-Kenosha /Tremper) had a big stop to keep the score 2-2. The Vikings then took a 3-2 lead on the fourth set of kicks after the Blugolds missed their attempt. UWEC's final kicker Emily Meisinger (Jr.-Green Bay/Notre Dame Academy) had to score to keep the Blugolds alive and she did just that. Augustana still had a chance to win it, but Lauren Everding's kick hit the post and nothing was decided after the first round of penalty kicks.

The match then went into sudden death penalty kicks. If one team made it and the other didn't the match was over. The Blugolds went first and Jill Cope (Sr.-Golden Valley, MN/Hopkins) delivered putting the pressure on Augustana. Weirick stopped Augustana's attempt to put the Blugolds into the second round of the tournament.

The Blugolds will go on to play host and fourth-ranked Wheaton tomorrow in the second round match. The Thunder, the defending Division III champions, took care of Webster University today 5-0 in their first round match. The Thunder dominated Webster out-shooting them 31-4. The Thunder scored four unassisted goals on their way to victory.

The second round match between the Blugolds and No.4 Wheaton will begin at 6 p.m. tomorrow in Wheaton.

Eau Claire-Augustana box score

- JR -