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OSHKOSH, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's soccer team competed valiantly Friday but fell just short in a 1-0 setback at UW-Oshkosh in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship match on J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.
 
The Warhawks (13-4-4 overall) were shut out for the first time since their season opening match, which took place back on Aug. 29. The loss also snapped UW-Whitewater's 12-match unbeaten streak, a stretch it played with a record of 9-0-3.
 
The Titans (14-5-2) tallied in the 68th minute and hung on the rest of the way to take the title.
 
The Warhawks were outshot 13-7 in the contest, and UW-Oshkosh held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Prior to the match, senior midfielder John Gottwald (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) was named winner of the WIAC Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award for academic and athletic excellence. He is the first men's soccer student-athlete from UW-Whitewater to earn the honor.
 
In the first half, UW-Whitewater, fended off early offensive attacks by UW-Oshkosh, recording its first shot in the 22nd minute.
 
The Warhawks rattled off three corner kicks in a one-minute span later in the period, but were unable to come away with a shot.
 
In the 39th, junior forward Sam Novak (Milton, Wis./Milton) put a shot on goal that was saved by the Titans. UW-Whitewater posted the final shot of the half in the 41st.
 
UW-Oshkosh put eight shots on net through the first part of the second half before sending in its goal just over half way through the period.
 
The Warhawks, going against the wind in the second half, were unable to find an offensive rhythm until the 79th minute, when senior midfielder Sam Kuchenreuther (Brown Deer, Wis./Brown Deer) nearly tied the match with a header on goal.
 
UW-Whitewater put one more shot on net in the 87th minute, but the kick by senior defender Kody Mjelde (Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo) was saved.
 
The Warhawks, who entered the week ranked third in the North Region, will learn their season's fate Monday at 12:30 p.m. with the airing of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament selection show. The show will be webcast on NCAA.com.