EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The Blugolds lost to UW-Platteville 1-0 on Saturday at Simpson Field. UWEC held a 14-6 shot advantage, including an 8-1 edge in the second half, but were held scoreless. The Blugolds put four shots on goal and earned four corner kicks, while UWP scored in the first half and finished with three shots on goal.
The Blugolds went into halftime trailing 1-0 after Wis.-Platteville's Zac Monnett scored off a Calen Wahlberg assist in the 38th minute. Earlier, the Blugolds opened with pressure, earning a corner in the third minute and getting shots from
Ramzi Ouro and
Tate McDermott in the first six minutes, with Connor Waite saving Ouro's attempt. The Blugolds continued to create chances through
Oge Enwemnwa,
Ashton Johnston and
Kyron Pope, while
Charlie Mroz kept the match scoreless with a save on Roberto Salinas in the 27th minute. After Monnett's goal, Mroz added another save on Wahlberg in the 40th minute, and the Blugolds earned a late corner at 43:04 before the half ended with the Pioneers ahead 1-0.
The Blugolds pushed for an equalizer throughout the second half but could not break through, including a sustained stretch from 61:25 to 74:54 that began and ended with UWP still ahead 1-0. Earlier, Ouro put a shot over the top in the 50th minute and the Blugolds earned a corner kick moments later. The pressure increased after the hour mark, with
Owen Backus,
Noah Malcook,
Baylor Denu and
Elijah Post all recording shots during the extended push. UWEC kept attacking late as Ouro forced a save from Connor Waite in the 88th minute and Backus added another attempt, but the half ended without a goal as the Pioneers held on for the 1-0 final.
Ouro led the Blugolds with three shots and put two on goal. Mroz played all 90 minutes in goal and recorded two saves while allowing one goal.
The Blugolds fall to 5-3-4 overall and 0-1-1 in WIAC play. UW-Platteville move to 5-4-2 overall and 2-0-0 in WIAC contests.
UW-Eau Claire return to action Saturday, Oct. 17, when they compete in the MIAC vs. WIAC meet at 1 p.m. at the Rochester Rec Center in Rochester, Minnesota.
