WHITEWATER, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's soccer team saw its second-half rally nullified in a 2-2 tie with UW-Whitewater on Wednesday night. The seventh-ranked Blugolds scored twice after the break to take a 2-1 lead, but a late equalizer from the Warhawks ensured each team would walk away with a point in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warhawks took the lead just before halftime, scoring in the 41st minute off a corner kick.
- The Blugolds leveled the score in the 55th minute, scoring off a throw-in. Jacob Sampson (Sr. – McFarland, Wis.) took a long throw from the left sideline, and Nathan Donovan (Sr. – Hazel Green, Wis./Wahlert Catholic) flicked it into the penalty area. Tate McDermott (Fr. – Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes) was there to turn it into the back of the net and tie the game.
- UW-Eau Claire took its only lead in the 72nd minute. Donovan headed home the go-ahead goal off a free kick from Alvaro Alanis (Fr. – Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy) to put the Blugolds in front 2-1.
- The Warhawks finished the scoring in the 80th minute, converting a long free kick into a headed goal to tie the game.
- Mark Belknap (Sr. – Anoka, Minn.) made four saves in net for UW-Eau Claire. The Blugolds outshot the Warhawks 13-9.
- The Blugolds (12-1-4, 3-0-1) now have 10 points in the WIAC and sit atop the conference standings with one match left to play. They can clinch the first-ever WIAC championship with a win in their regular season finale. This is the first season the conference is sponsoring men's soccer.
UP NEXT
UW-Eau Claire will look to clinch the WIAC title when it visits UW-River Falls on Saturday, November 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Blugolds could potentially clinch the conference crown before kickoff of Saturday's game depending on results elsewhere in the WIAC.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at
Blugolds.com or on our app,
Blugold Sports, and on social media on
Twitter,
Instagram, and
Facebook.
