A single second-half goal was enough for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse soccer team on Saturday night. Katelyn Studebaker scored at 69:50, off an assist from Gianna Zamborni, and the Eagles held on for a 1-0 win over UW-Platteville in the WIAC Tournament championship game at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
Goalkeeper Summer Nicolai recorded the shutout with one save. UWL controlled the match statistically, outshooting the Pioneers 30-3 with 11 shots on goal and 11 corner kicks. Ella Opie led the Eagles with seven shots, three of them on goal, while Platteville goalkeeper Marguerite Mueller made nine saves in the loss.
The title is UWL's fifth straight WIAC Tournament championship and its eighth in school history. The Eagles are the first program to win at least five straight tournament titles since UW-Stevens Point won eight in a row from 1997 to 2004, and Saturday's win was their 10th consecutive victory in tournament play.
UWL improves to 20-1 on the season, tying the second-highest single-season win total in school history, while UW-Platteville falls to 8-4-7. The Eagles also won their fifth straight WIAC regular season title this fall with a 6-1 conference record.
With the championship, UWL earns the WIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships, the program's ninth trip overall and sixth straight. The 64-team field is scheduled to be announced Monday, Nov. 9 at 10:30 a.m. on NCAA.com, with first and second round games played at campus sites Nov. 13-15.
