EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's soccer team hosted their final regular-season home game on Saturday as the team and fans celebrated Senior Night. In a rematch of the 2022 NCAA Tournament First Round, UW-Eau Claire hosted Luther College in a regional battle under lights. A quick start and strong finish by the Blugolds earned them the 5-2 win at Simpson Field.
Noah Malcook (Fr. – Fitchburg, Wis./Oregon) and the Blugolds got things started in the 11
th minute on a strike from outside the 18-yard box and past the Luther keeper to give UWEC the 1-0 lead.
Will Heinen (Jr. – Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) and
Carter Thiesfeld (Jr. – Forest Lake, Minn.) connected for assists on the opening goal.
Just three minutes later,
Nathan Donovan (Jr. – Hazel Green, Wis./Wahlert Catholic) capitalized on a Luther Norse defensive miscue that left Donovan in alone with the goalkeeper.
Nathan Donovan beat the keeper with his 19
th goal of the year to put UWEC up, 2-0.
In the 34
th minute,
Nathan Donovan was taken down inside the penalty area on a wide run around the defender to draw a penalty kick.
Sam Lynch (Sr. – Verona, Wis.) stepped up to the penalty spot and blasted the ball to the goalkeeper's right to increase the UW-Eau Claire lead to 3-0 before halftime.
The second half held a shift in momentum as Luther College scored in the 55
th minute off a corner kick and successfully converted a penalty kick themselves to cut the Blugold lead back to just one goal.
Nathan Donovan and the lethal offense kept the Norse at a distance as Donovan tallied a pair of goal in the 77
th and 79
th to complete the hat trick and seal the 5-2 victory.
Drew Jeffers (Jr. – Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley),
Will Heinen, and
Carter Thiesfeld all earned assists on Dononvan's brace in the final 20 minutes of play.
Mark Belknap (Jr. – Anoka, Minn.) stopped four of the six shots on goal he faced during his fifth win of the season. Belknap is now 5-1-2 with 21 saves this year.
The Blugolds (11-3-2) will hit the road for their final games of the season, with their first stop being Augsburg University. Kickoff between the Blugolds and Auggies is set for Tuesday, October 24
th at 7:30 p.m. from Edor Nelson Field.
