UW-La Crosse Wins Fourth Consecutive Women’s Soccer Championship

**UW-La Crosse Sports Information contributed to this recap

OSHKOSH, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse claimed the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s soccer regular-season championship with a 5-1 triumph over UW-Oshkosh at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium on Oct. 25.

It is the fourth consecutive – and eighth overall – regular-season crown for the Eagles. UW-La Crosse (15-2-1 overall, 5-0-1 WIAC/16 pts.) also secured the top seed for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s). The six-team tournament begins Nov. 5 with a pair of first-round contests. UW-La Crosse will host one of two semifinal matches on Nov. 7. The tournament concludes with the championship tilt on Nov. 9, and the winner receiving an automatic NCAA bid.

UW-La Crosse extended its WIAC unbeaten streak to 27 (25-0-2) in the win over the Titans. The Eagles scored three first half goals against UW-Oshkosh. Ella Opie gave UW-La Crosse a 1-0 lead at :36 with Jillian Sawadski recording the assist. The Eagles extended the lead to 2-0 at 14:12 on Catherine’s Arnold’s goal and Sera Speltz made it 3-0 at 19:04 with Sawadski recording her second assist. UW-La Crosse had seven first half shots.

Opie gave the Eagles a 4-0 lead at 65:30 and Aubree Caya finished the scoring at 74:30 on an Amaya Thesing assist. Caya scored her 19th goal of the season, tying the single-season school record set by Jennifer Tischaefer in 1997 and 1999.

UW-Oshkosh got on the scoreboard at 77:09 with Maris Heun's goal.

UW-La Crosse finished with 17 shots, including 12 on goal. Caya recorded six shots with five on goal while Opie, Speltz and Arnold each had two shots with both coming on goal. The Eagles had seven corner kicks.

Summer Nicolai earned the win in goal, recording two saves in 70:14. Robin Blair had one save in 19:46.

UW-Oshkosh totaled 11 shots with four on goal. Greta Steines finished with three shots, one on goal, while Heun had two shots with both coming on goal. The Titans finished with three corner kicks.

Mallory Kerhin suffered the loss, registering seven saves.

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