RIVER FALLS, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's soccer team clinched the first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) title in program history with a 2-0 victory over UW-River Falls on Saturday night at Ramer Field. The seventh-ranked Blugolds finished off an unbeaten run through the WIAC to clinch the league's first regular season crown since its reinstatement. This is the first year the WIAC has sponsored men's soccer since 2014.
The Blugolds entered Saturday night needing a win to seal the conference championship. A pair of first-half goals ensured they would get it. They finished atop the league standings with 13 points, one ahead of second-place UW-Platteville. UW-Eau Claire went 4-0-1 in conference games.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A goal from Carson Kowalski (Jr. - Mundelein, Ill.) in the 30th minute proved to be the title clincher. He curled a direct free kick into the top right corner of the goal to put UW-Eau Claire ahead 1-0.
- Nathan Donovan (Sr. - Hazel Green, Wis./Wahlert Catholic) iced the game away with a goal from the penalty spot in the 45th minute.
- Charlie Mroz (Fr. - Waukesha, Wis./South) and Mark Belknap (Sr. - Anoka, Minn.) teamed up to post the shutout in net. Mroz made three saves for the Blugolds.
- The Blugolds were able to keep the ball in the Falcons' half for long stretches. They outshot UW-River Falls 39-7, including a 16-3 advantage in shots on target.
- UW-Eau Claire had eight corner kicks to UW-River Falls' two.
UP NEXT
The road to the NCAA Tournament will go through Eau Claire. The Blugolds are the No. 1 seed for the WIAC Tournament (Presented by Culver's), which begins next week. UW-Eau Claire has a bye for the first round and will host the lowest remaining seed in the semifinals on Friday, November 8, at Simpson Field. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.
As the top seed, the Blugolds will enjoy home field advantage for the entire conference tournament.
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