EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — For the third straight season, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's soccer team is going dancing. This time around, the Blugolds won't need to sweat out their selection while the NCAA Tournament field is revealed.
The seventh-ranked Blugolds clinched an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament by defeating UW-Platteville 1-0 in the championship game of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament (Presented by Culver's) at Simpson Field on Sunday. It's the first conference tournament championship in program history and comes just over a week after the Blugolds (15-1-4) won the WIAC regular-season title.
The Blugolds scored a golazo and survived a first-half red card to blank the Pioneers and stretch their unbeaten streak to 11 games. Including conference tournament games, UW-Eau Claire went 6-0-1 against WIAC opponents this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Owen Williams (Jr. – Stevens Point, Wis.) scored the historic goal for the Blugolds, rifling home a bicycle kick in the 20th minute to put UW-Eau Claire ahead. Carson Kowalski (Jr. – Mundelein, Ill.) launched a free kick toward the Pioneers' box from midfield, and Nathan Donovan (Sr. – Hazel Green, Wis./Wahlert Catholic) headed it toward the middle. Williams dropped his back to the turf and connected with his left foot, sending the ball into the top right corner of the net.
- That was the only offense the Blugolds needed. Even as UW-Eau Claire was reduced to 10 players due to a red card in the 35th minute, the Pioneers couldn't break through. Spencer Banks (Sr. – Stevens Point, Wis.) saved all four shots he faced in goal, and the Blugold back line turned away UW-Platteville at every opportunity to clinch the conference tournament title.
- UW-Eau Claire held a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal.
- It was the Blugolds' second win over the Pioneers this season. They also won 2-0 on October 4.
UP NEXT
The Blugolds will learn their regional site and first-round opponent for the NCAA Tournament during the NCAA Selection Show at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, November 11. The Selection Show will be streamed on NCAA.com.
UW-Eau Claire reached the regional finals of the 2022 NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2023. The Blugolds will make their third NCAA postseason appearance next weekend. The regional semifinals are slated to begin on Saturday, November 16.
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