WHITEWATER, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's soccer team scored a goal in each half to blank UW-Whitewater 2-0 in its regular season finale on Wednesday in Whitewater. The victory was the Blugolds' fifth in a row to end the regular season.
UW-Eau Claire got ahead early thanks to a strike from Jacob Sampson (So. - McFarland, Wis.). The sophomore took a pass from Carter Thiesfeld (So. - Forest Lake, Minn.) and converted it into the game's opening goal in the 14th minute. It was one of four shots in the first half for the Blugolds, who carried a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Blugolds iced the game away in the late stages of the second half. Nathan Donovan (So. - Hazel Green, Wis./Wahlert Catholic) tallied his 19th goal of the season when he struck in the 78th minute. Scott Hanson (Fr. - Woodbury, Minn.) supplied the assist. UW-Eau Claire goalkeeper Spencer Banks (So. - Stevens Point, Wis.) made a pair of saves in the late stages of the game to keep the Warhawks off the scoreboard. Banks finished with six saves to preserve the shutout, which was his ninth this season.
UW-Eau Claire finished the season 18-2-0, and will now wait to learn its NCAA Tournament fate. The Blugolds are ranked No. 2 in Region IX in the latest NCAA regional rankings. The NCAA Tournament field will be announced November 7.
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