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Pointers' Rally Falls Short in
Semifinal Setback
Box Score
Trailing by a goal in the second half, the
UW-Stevens Point women�s soccer team had a tenacious rally come up short
in the final 30 minutes as the Pointers saw their season end in the
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference semifinals with a 1-0 loss
to UW-Oshkosh on Friday in Eau Claire.
The Titans got a first half goal on a corner kick by Amanda Matzke and the
Pointers were unable to get an equalizer despite controlling play in the
final third of the match. UW-Stevens Point, which had outscored its
opponents 34-0 in its preceding five matches, ended the year with a 12-4-3
overall record. The Pointers played without one of their top offensive
players in Amanda Prawat and also had two of their top defenders injured
in the match, though both later returned to the field.
�We overcame a lot of adversity with injuries
not only today, but all season long,� said Pointers� coach Sheila Miech,
whose team lost in the WIAC tournament for just the third time in 15
seasons and 38 matches. �They don�t realize it right now, but this was a
great season for us with all we�ve been through. I�m really proud of this
team and the way they just continued to battle through everything.�
UW-Oshkosh was in control during the first half, outshooting the Pointers
7-1 and getting six corner kicks. The Titans had three consecutive corner
kicks with under 15 minutes left. The first appeared headed into the goal,
but was deflected off a Pointers� defender and out of bounds. The second
was headed away and eventually led to another corner kick that Amanda
Matzke, a left-footed in-swinger, perfectly curled inside the far post for
the only goal. The Titans had five other shots save by Pointers' keeper
Meredith DeCaluwe (pictured).
The Pointers had defenders Meghan Vanden Heuvel
and Megan Schmidt both experience bloody mouth injuries and suffer even
more harm to an already shortened bench. UW-Oshkosh�s defense also limited
the number of touches for Pointers� forward Kaylee Weise, who entered the
match red-hot with 10 goals and nine assists over the last five matches.
UW-Stevens Point came to life in the second half
with numerous scoring chances. The Pointers totaled five shots in the half
and had several other quality passes into the box that were poked away by
a stingy Titans� defense before the Pointers were able to attempt a shot.
UW-Stevens Point had none of its shots on goal, but had its best scoring
opportunity come when Liz Kidd fielded a ball near the top of the penalty
box with under 20 minutes left and blasted a shot that rang off the
crossbar.
It was another tight match between the two WIAC
rivals, who have played four straight 1-0 contests. In fact, the last
seven meetings have been decided by one goal or less with six one-goal
matches and a tie. The Titans are now 12-5-2 and advance to face UW-Eau
Claire in the tournament finals on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Blugolds
defeated UW-River Falls 2-0 in the other semifinal.
photos courtesy of Rick Mickelson, UW-Eau Claire |
