WHITEWATER, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men’s soccer team saw its second-half rally nullified in a 2-2 tie with UW-Whitewater on Wednesday night. The seventh-ranked Blugolds scored twice after the break to take a 2-1 lead, but a late equalizer from the Warhawks ensured each team would walk away with a point in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warhawks took the lead just before halftime, scoring in the 41st minute off a corner kick.
- The Blugolds leveled the score in the 55th minute, scoring off a throw-in. Jacob Sampson (Sr. – McFarland, Wis.) took a long throw from the left sideline, and Nathan Donovan (Sr. – Hazel Green, Wis./Wahlert Catholic) flicked it into the penalty area. Tate McDermott (Fr. – Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes) was there to turn it into the back of the net and tie the game.
- UW-Eau Claire took its only lead in the 72nd minute. Donovan headed home the go-ahead goal off a free kick from Alvaro Alanis (Fr. – Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy) to put the Blugolds in front 2-1.
- The Warhawks finished the scoring in the 80th minute, converting a long free kick into a headed goal to tie the game.
- Mark Belknap (Sr. – Anoka, Minn.) made four saves in net for UW-Eau Claire. The Blugolds outshot the Warhawks 13-9.
- The Blugolds (12-1-4, 3-0-1) now have 10 points in the WIAC and sit atop the conference standings with one match left to play. They can clinch the first-ever WIAC championship with a win in their regular season finale. This is the first season the conference is sponsoring men’s soccer.
UW-Eau Claire will look to clinch the WIAC title when it visits UW-River Falls on Saturday, November 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Blugolds could potentially clinch the conference crown before kickoff of Saturday’s game depending on results elsewhere in the WIAC…