After a semi-final win against UW-River Falls last Thursday, the women’s soccer team concluded its season Saturday, falling to UW-Stevens Point in the championship game of the WIAC tournament.

On Thursday, the team was full of offense as they came away with a 4-0 victory against River Falls. The team opened the scoring early with a goal at the 2:10 from freshman Katie Richter.

Just over 10 minutes later the team added to its lead with a goal from senior Alli Kishaba. It was the third of the season for Kishaba.

In the 30th minute the Blugolds tallied another score on an own goal by River Falls. Junior Richelle Shannon kicked the ball towards the goal, and it went over a River Falls defender’s head into the goal. Eau Claire held a 3-0 lead in an offensive first half.

Fifty-eight minutes into the game, freshman Shyla Gilbertson added to her team lead in goals, picking up her 10th score of the year. The score remained 4-0 as Eau Claire advanced to the finals.

The Blugolds had 20 shots in the game to River Falls’ six. Sophomore Emily Kidd picked up her sixth shutout of the season.

On Saturday the championship game was filled with much more defense than the semi-final before it. Eau Claire and Stevens Point battled to a 0-0 halftime tie.

The stalemate was broken in the 66th minute on a goal by Stevens Point. Eau Claire was unable to knot things up and fell to the Pointers 1-0 in the process. By winning the WIAC tournament, Stevens Point was granted an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

On top of finishing second in the WIAC tournament, the Blugolds also placed second during the WIAC regular season with a 6-1-1 conference record. Eau Claire finished with a 10-8-2 record overall and failed to receive an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament.

Eau Claire will have plenty to look forward to next season, returning eight starters and its eight leading goal scorers.