WHITEWATER, Wis.- UW-Oshkosh women's soccer fell behind in the 15th minute of its WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) Quarterfinal match at UW-Whitewater on Tuesday (Nov. 3), but scored two goals in the second half to eliminate the Warhawks and pick up a win in the conference tournament for the first time since 2021.
The No. 6 seed Titans (9-6-4), 2011, 2014 and 2021 tournament champions, picked up their first win over third-seeded Whitewater (13-5-3) since 2021 and first postseason victory over the Warhawks since a 1-0 decision in the tournament championship match in Whitewater. The win was just the fifth for a six seed in the 34-season history of the tournament.
Oshkosh outshot Whitewater, 16-10, and held a 10-4 edge in on-goal attempts and bounced back from a 3-0 first-half deficit in corner kicks to a final lead of 8-5.
Both coming off the bench,
Addie Wreath (Appleton/Appleton East) scored the tying goal in the 59th minute and
Courtney Pampuch (Mukwonago/Mukwonago) tallied the game-winner, also her first career goal, in the 85th minute.
Ryley Meenk (Waukesha/Waukesha South) recorded an assist on Wreath's goal and Wreath assisted Pampuch's score.
Maddie Daigle (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy) attempted a match-high three shots with two on goal while
Nadia Epshteyn (Cedarburg/Cedarburg) put both of her attempts on goal.
Ella Duckmann (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove),
Addyson Knoebel (Appleton/Appleton West) and
Greta Steines (Eau Claire/Eau Claire Memorial) add a shot on goal each.
Larissa Likes (Kaukauna/Kaukauna) made three saves in the first half against one goal allowed before
Jamaya Mariner (Green Bay/Green Bay East) came in for the second half. Mariner did not face a shot while helping preserve the win.
After attempting the first shot of the match in the ninth minute, the Warhawks scored their goal in the 15th minute.
Oshkosh shot on goal three times between the 18th and 23rd minutes, however Warhawk goalkeeper Lauren Ripley was able to stop each attempt.
After Epshteyn's shot in the 23rd minute, the Titans were held to a Daigle shot on goal while Likes made two saves.
The Titans recorded five corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of the second half and shot six times in the first 14 minutes before Wreath tied the match at 1-1 early in the second half with a shot to the back of the net on a corner kick pass from Meenk.
While holding the Warhawks scoreless, Oshkosh added two more corner kicks and three more shots leading up to Pampuch's game-winning goal. She notched the goal in the 85th minute with a chip to the top left corner of the net on a pass from Knoebel.
The Warhawks shot once more as time expired, however the ball went wide of the post.
The Titans will travel to face No. 1 seed UW-La Crosse at the Eagles' Veterans Memorial Sports Complex on Thursday (Nov. 5) at 6 p.m. The Eagles, four-time defending WIAC Tournament champions, defeated Oshkosh, 3-0, at home in the teams' regular season matchup.
