LA CROSSE, Wis.- UW-La Crosse women's soccer, the 15th-ranked program in NCAA Division III by the
Intercollegiate Women's Soccer Organization for Coaches, scored a pair of early goals and added another in the second half to defeat UW-Oshkosh, 3-0, in La Crosse on Saturday (Oct. 24).
The Eagles (16-1-0, 5-1-0 WIAC) outshot the Titans (6-6-4, 1-3-2 WIAC), 20-12, and held a 15-4 edge in shots on goal. Oshkosh owned a 12-5 advantage in saves, however a 9-1 deficit in corner kicks created more offensive opportunities for the Eagles.
Maddie Daigle (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy) led Oshkosh's offensive efforts with four shots (two on goal).
Addyson Knoebel (Appleton/Appleton West) put both of her attempts between the posts and
Nadia Epshteyn (Cedarburg/Cedarburg) went 1-for-2 in attempts off the bench.
In goal,
Larissa Likes (Kaukauna/Kaukauna) saved four shots against two goals allowed and
Jamaya Mariner (Green Bay/Green Bay East) saved five against one goal allowed.
La Crosse scored on the first shot of the match in the third minute and added its second goal in the 20th minute following a corner kick that generated a Likes save and a team save before the score.
Daigle tallied Oshkosh's first shot on goal in the 17th minute and owned the only shot for the visitors until Epshteyn tried to cut the deficit to a goal in the 38th minute.
Greta Steines (Eau Claire/Eau Claire Memorial) tried a blocked attempt just before the half.
The Titans took four shots in the first seven minutes of the second half that included on-goal attempts by Knoebel 49 seconds into the period and another by Daigle in the 53rd minute. Eagle goalkeeper Summer Nicolai, who submitted her fourth shutout of the season, saved both shots.
Knoebel put another attempt on goal in the 70th minute, Oshkosh's final shot of the match.
The Eagles scored their final goal in the 76th minute when the ball ricocheted off a defender into the net.
The Titans head to Lake Forest, Ill. on Wednesday (Oct. 28) to close out their nonconference slate before heading north on Saturday, Oct. 31 for their regular season finale at UW-River Falls.
