UW-Oshkosh scored twice in the first half and added an insurance goal in the second as it defeated UW-La Crosse, 3-1, in a semifinal round match of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Soccer Tournament held Thursday (Nov. 3) in La Crosse.

UW-Oshkosh (12-6-2) advances to play regular-season champion UW-Whitewater (13-4-1) in the title game of the six-team tournament on Saturday (Nov. 5) in Whitewater. The Warhawks moved to the 1 p.m. championship contest with Thursday's 3-2 victory over UW-Stevens Point (11-8). The winner between UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater will receive WIAC's automatic bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championship.

UW-Oshkosh and UW-La Crosse were scoreless until the Titans' Kelsey Spaith (Sr. • Madison) converted a penalty kick in the 32nd minute (31:22) of play. Spaith's third goal of the season came after a UW-La Crosse player was called for a handball in the penalty area.

UW-Oshkosh increased its lead to 2-0 on a goal by Kelsey Daulton (Fr. • Elk River, Minn.) in the 38th minute (37:48). Amanda Leach (Jr. • Waukesha) was credited with an assist on Daulton's third goal of the year.

UW-La Crosse, which defeated UW-Oshkosh by a 1-0 result on Oct. 1, sliced its deficit to 2-1 on Laura Sauer's header in the 52nd minute (51:23). Her goal followed passes from Jamie Ochsenwald and Courtney Weber.

The Titans clinched their fourth visit to the tournament's championship game on Chelsea Kierszh's (So. • Oshkosh) goal in the 56th minute (55:21). Her fifth goal of the season was assisted by Kiley Hauck (So. • Hubertus).

UW-Oshkosh totaled 21 shots, including 15 in the first half, and three corner kicks. Nicole Strieker (Jr. • Janesville) launched six shots, Kierszh four and Spaith two to lead the Titans.

UW-La Crosse compiled eight shots in each period and earned a total of three corner kicks. The Eagles were led by Ochsenwald's seven shots and Sarah Joost's four.

The contest featured 12 goalkeeping saves, with UW-Oshkosh's Brittany Walder (Sr. • Waukesha) owning seven and UW-La Crosse's Sagan Pizzingrilli five.

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