Playing for their proverbial lives, the UW-Whitewater women's soccer team defeated host UW-Oshkosh on Tuesday in overtime, 2-1, in the first round of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament.  The win extends the Warhawks' season at least one more game as they will advance to the semifinals of the WIAC tournament.

Box Score

The frigid match, where temperatures hovered around thirty degrees, was scoreless for the first half. UW-O seemingly had an early edge outshooting the Warhawks 8-3 during the first period.

Just eight and a half minutes into the second half, UW-O took the lead on a strike from the right side of the net by Nicole Strieker after a pass from Carmen Fiordellisi.

It wasn't long after that the Warhawks scored the equalizer off the foot of UW-W leading scorer Emily Gerber (DeForest/DeForest).  The goal came from about twenty-five yards out.  Gerber, the school's record holder for goals in a season, has found the back of the net 23 times this season.

The remainder of regulation was scoreless but the attack seemed to tip in favor of UW-W as they outshot the Titans 9-3 in the second half.

Stacey Schultz (Menomonee Falls/Menomonee Falls) fired the lone shot of the overtime period and it was all UW-W needed as the ball sailed into the net from about ten yards out to end the game.  This was just the second overtime game of the season for UW-W and the previous ended in a 1-1 tie with UW-Eau Claire.

Sam Neely (Oregon/Oregon) played solid in the net for UW-W recording five saves in the match.  Neely is now 3-1-0 when in the net for the 'Hawks this season.

UW-W improves to 11-7-1 and this is the third consecutive season that the 'Hawks have recorded double-digit wins.  The Titans finish the season 9-8-2.

The WIAC Tournament consists of the top six teams in the standings after regular season play.  The top two seeds receive a bye while the remaining four teams are left to duke it out for a berth in the semifinals.  The Warhawks, the lowest remaining seed, have advanced to the semifinal match against number one seed UW-Stevens Point.  The 'Hawks will travel to Point on Thursday, November 5, for a match that begins at 2:00 pm.  The winner of that match will advance to the finals to take on the winner of the other semi-final match between UW-River Falls, the three seed, and UW-Eau Claire, the two seed.  The winner of the WIAC tournament receives an automatic berth into the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III tournament.

For additional information, Greg Henschel