Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's soccer team concluded its historic season with a 2-1 loss to Amherst College in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The match took place at Simpson Field, marking the Blugolds' first appearance in the national quarterfinals. Despite their efforts, they fell short against last year's national runner-up.

The Blugolds ended their season with a record of 17-2-4, having won both the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular season and tournament championships. They also achieved three victories in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in team history.

"Just coming from where it all started to see where we are now, it's truly remarkable," said senior Jacob Sampson. He reflected on his initial tour with head coach Casey Holm and expressed confidence that future classes would continue to build on their success.

Amherst secured its place in the Final Four by scoring twice during the match. The Mammoths opened the scoring in the 36th minute and extended their lead with a penalty kick in the 65th minute.

UW-Eau Claire responded shortly after when Porter Ball scored following assists from Alvaro Alanis and Will Heinen. However, despite pressing for an equalizer, they could not find another goal.

"Any time you go down, you have to find a way to score," Holm stated. He praised his team's ability to create opportunities but acknowledged Amherst's goalkeeper's crucial saves.

The Blugolds will graduate a significant senior class that has helped elevate the program nationally. "At this point, I think the biggest thing is our 13 seniors and what will be left behind after they graduate…is something special," Holm commented on their legacy and influence on underclassmen.

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