By Nick Hoven, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – On a perfect day for soccer at Bollinger Field, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's soccer team defeated the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the first round of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Soccer Championship (presented by Culver's).
Box Score | WIAC Championship Website
The teams met in the regular season just under two weeks ago which ended in a 0-0 tie; but today the Blugolds wrote a different ending with help from a couple of their talented freshmen.
Throughout the first 30 minutes of play, both teams had equal opportunities, and as was expected, there were physical plays from both sides. In the contest earlier this year, there were a combined team total of 14 fouls. This match would prove to be the same way with a combined 12 fouls in the match.
In the last 10 minutes of the first half, Eau Claire took control and refused to let the opposition out of their own end. This aggressiveness would eventually lead to the only goals on the day.
The first, after the ball had been cleared out by Falcon defense, was put back in the box by Lauren Lenz (Jr.-Saint Germain, WI) to the right side of the goal. It was great pass to Natalie Clark (Jr.-Fredonia, WI) who then passed it to the middle of the box to find forward Olivia Hanson (Fr.-Eau Claire, WI/Memorial) who would finish it off with a strike into the right corner of the goal.
It would only take Eau Claire one minute and 15 seconds to add to their lead. Freshman midfielder Emily Sullivan (Fr.-Medina, MN) found a path to run down the right side of the box. After beating her defender, she attempted to cross it into the box and the ball ricocheted off another Falcon defender and into the back of the net.
The second half really brought out the best in the Blugold defense as Eau Claire did not allow a single shot.
Sammy LeFaive (Jr.-Coon Rapids, MN) who finished the regular season with 83 saves, would record her seventh shutout of the season along with four saves.
The Blugolds advance to the WIAC semifinals against UW-La Crosse on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.
