Pointers Pull Out Another WIAC Tournament Title and NCAA Bid

Box Score

     The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament brings out the best in the UW-Stevens Point women�s soccer team and it did so again this season as the Pointers won their eighth straight conference tournament and 12th in the 13-year history of the event with a 1-0 win over UW-Oshkosh on Saturday in Stevens Point.

     The win qualifies for the Pointers for the NCAA Division III tournament, which begins on Wednesday. UW-Stevens Point will make its 11th appearance and is the only WIAC school ever to play in the NCAA tournament, which will have its bracket announced on Sunday night.

     However, the wins haven�t been getting any easier for the Pointers, who held off a furious Titans� rally in the final minutes to earn the victory.

     UW-Stevens Point scored the only goal of the match off its only corner kick of the second half, coming with under 34 minutes remaining. Katie O�Leary�s kick was battled for the penalty box and collected by Alyssa Souza, who passed to Melissa Becker for a header that hit off the crossbar and off the hands of diving UW-Oshkosh goalie Christine Barutha, landing in the back of the net for the only score of the match.

     The Pointers went on the defensive from that point and stopped several good scoring chances for the Titans, who had six corner kicks in the second half. Their best chance was saved by Pointers� goalie Meredith DeCaluwe on a close range shot in the final minute.

     There were limited scoring opportunities in the match, but they were nearly all quality chances. Both teams had solid opportunities in the first half as Barutha and DeCaluwe both made leaping saves and UW-Stevens Point had another shot rocket off the crossbar. However, the shots were limited as UW-Oshkosh held an 8-7 advantage for the match. DeCaluwe made three saves and Barutha had four saves.

     The victory was UW-Stevens Point�s eighth consecutive and their 22nd straight conference tournament win as it improved to 15-4-1 overall. The Pointers are now 34-1 all-time in the tournament and won by one goal for the sixth time in their 12 title match wins, including their fifth by a 1-0 count. It marked the fourth time UW-Stevens Point has not allowed a goal in the tournament after blanking UW-River Falls 1-0 in the semifinals.

     UW-Oshkosh had a school-record 10-match unbeaten streak snapped and tied a school record for victories, finishing 15-4-3 overall.