RIVER FALLS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Down 2-1 with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, the UW-Eau Claire women's soccer team scored the tying goal to force overtime where they scored the game-winning goal to defeat UW-River Falls 3-2 here today at Ramer Field.
On a season- best three-game winning streak, the Blugolds improve to 7-9-2 overall and 5-3-0 in the WIAC. The Falcons fall to 11-5-3 and 4-3-1 in conference play. With the win the Blugolds will be the third seed in the six-team WIAC Women's Soccer Championship beginning next Tuesday, November 4 where they will host a first round game.
Eau Claire struck first as Caroline Henderson (Jr.-Duluth, MN/East) scored the game's first goal assisted by Fallon Peplinski (So.-Appleton, WI/Xavier) and Ashley O'Connell (Jr.-Appleton, WI/East). It was the third straight game that Henderson has scored a goal.
The Falcons answered with goals at 40:42 and 60:03 to take a 2-0 lead. With time winding down Sami Matuszak (Fr.-Green Bay, WI/Preble) tied the game at 88:20 with her fifth goal of the year assisted by Ashley Seymour (Jr.-Verona, WI) forcing the game into overtime.
Tara Dennehy (Jr.-Eugene, OR/Churchill) scored her fifth goal of the year at 95:21 assisted again by Seymour securing a first round home game for the Blugolds.
Goalie Emily Byal (So.-Eagle, WI/Palmyra-Eagle) earned her second win of the season saving four shots. Her season record stands at 2-1-0 which includes two conference wins.
Up next the Blugolds will host sixth-seed UW-Stout in the first round of the WIAC Soccer Championship. Action is set for Tuesday, November 4 starting at 2 p.m.
-KCM-
