Box Score
Yellowjackets 2, UW-Oshkosh 1
Coming off their first ever WIAC playoff victory, the Yellowjackets knew they were one step closer to reaching the sweet view from the top of the mountain. That same view each and every team works for from the first day of two-a-days until the last tick on the clock. The Yellowjackets scratched and clawed their way to the top of the mountain with a 2-1 victory over UW-Oshkosh to claim the WIAC championship.Â
The Yellowjackets didn't have the easiest road to overcoming the Titians. In fact, they had to overcome some adversity going into the second half. Jan Nachtigall was a huge reason why as he gave the Titans a 1-0 lead at 17:58 into the contest. Tony Starnes was credited with the assist on the play.
Ladies and gentleman, operation Yellowjackets.
It was the Yellowjackets who came out the strongest at the most critical moment of the contest, the 2nd half. It may have been UW-Oshkosh with the upper hand in shots during the 2nd half at 13-3, but it was the Yellowjackets who converted on two out of three of their shots. Â
A Titan foul was the result of a penalty kick for Alberto Rivero-Garcia (Santander, Spain/). With a lot at stake, Garcia buried the shot past Titan goalkeeper Sam Gabrilska at 53:19 to tie the game 1-1. With a lot of implications going forward, the Yellowjackets knew they needed to bury one to keep their hopes of an NCAA tournament berth alive. Brian Grand (North Branch, Minn./North Branch) was the hero the Yellowjackets needed when he took a shot that went to the back of the net from 12 yards out on the left side of the box at 78:51 to give the Yellowjackets a 2-1 lead.
Matt Elder (New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) finished with six saves while Gabrilska stopped three shots for UW-Oshkosh.
The Yellowjackets (12-6-3, 2-1-1 WIAC) will now play the waiting game for a possible chance at an NCAA tournament berth. Stay tuned to uwsyellowjackets.com for coming details.
