EAU CLAIRE - The one-seeded UW-Eau Claire soccer team rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit to defeat second-seeded UW-Oshkosh 2-0 today claiming its first WIAC Tournament title, and in doing so clinched an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Prior to today, the Blugolds have been in the championship match eight times, but lost all eight.

In rainy and cold conditions, both teams played evenly. Both teams had 11 shots for the game. The Titans got on the board early when the Titans' Maggie Hoffman lofted the ball over the Blugolds goalkeeper just under three minutes into the match to give the Titans an early 1-0 lead. Both defenses then shot down the opposing offenses and the Titans went to the half with a 1-0 lead.

The second half was a different story, as the Blugolds came out and after being out-shot 7-4 in the first half, reversed that and out-shot the Titans 7-4 in the second half. The Blugolds tied it up when Liz Kooistra (Fr.-Lakeville, MN) scored at 57:35 after a scramble in front of the Titan goal. Emily Meisinger (Jr.-Green Bay/Notre Dame Academy) assisted on the goal.

The Blugolds then took the lead 52 seconds later when Maria Iaizzo (Jr.-White Bear Lake, MN) headed in a cross from Jessica Millard (Fr.-Madison/La Follette). The defense then held the lead from there defeating the Titans 2-1.

The Blugolds will now compete in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Blugolds will be one of 60 teams competing in the tournament. The pairings will be announced Monday morning. The first round of the tournament will begin Wednesday, November 9th.

Eau Claire-Oshkosh box score

- JR -