Men's Soccer

UW-Eau Claire Wins Men’s Soccer Tournament Title

**Release courtesy of UW-Eau Claire Sports Information

PLATTEVILLE, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Soccer Tournament (presented by Culver’s) with a 1-0 overtime victory over UW-Platteville at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium on Nov. 8.
 
It is the third straight tournament crown for UW-Eau Claire (10-3-7), who also secured the conference’s automatic NCAA bid with the win. 
 
Payton Douglas made six saves in the contest, including a crucial penalty kick save in the 93rd minute. Colin Mandernach found the back of the net in the 95th minute off an assist from Owen Backus to send the Blugolds back to the NCAA Tournament. UW-Platteville (10-5-4) finished with a 14-12 edge in shots and a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal.

The Blugolds opened the first half with a corner kick at 1:02 and shots from Tate McDermott and Baylor Denu in the first five minutes, while Douglas made his first save on a Westley Hankes attempt at 9:24. Noah Malcook and Ramzi Ouro each put shots on frame that Connor Waite saved, and Thomas Slater and Denu added later attempts before UW-Eau Claire earned another corner in the 32nd minute. UW-Platteville generated the late pressure, with Douglas saving Aiden Hatleberg's shot at 33:56 before Thomas Gaither and Hankes sent attempts off target, and the first half ended scoreless.

The Pioneers generated the first sustained push of the second half, earning corners at 50:17, 61:07 and 62:06, while Douglas saved shots from Justin Williams and Caden Wits during that stretch. The middle of the half became foul-heavy before the Blugolds created their own chances, with Elijah Post forcing a save at 73:40 and Tobias Volkmann hitting the top woodwork seven seconds later. UW-Eau Claire added a corner at 77:58 and a Malcook shot at 78:33, but the Pioneers came back with late attempts, including another Douglas save on Brady Harwood at 84:28. Kyron Pope put a shot on frame at 87:07 and Volkmann had the final attempt at 90:00, but neither team scored as the half ended with the match tied 0-0.

At 92:37 of overtime, the Blugolds were shown a yellow card and Douglas saved Roberto Salinas' penalty kick for UW-Platteville. UW-Eau Claire broke through at 94:09, when Mandernach scored off Backus' assist for the win.
 
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