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UW-Rock County soccer heads to title match

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

UW-Rock County's Nick Miller eyes his high kick in the first half against UW-Washington in their semi-final WJCAA-WCC soccer playoff game.

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

UW-Washington's Dan Parker and UW-Rock's Mike Schram battle for the ball.

JANESVILLE — UW-Rock County put up its defensive shield again to blank UW-Washington, 2-0, in a Wisconsin Collegiate Conference men’s soccer tournament semifinal here Wednesday.

With the victory, UW-Rock, the 2009 WCC co-champion, qualified for the WCC/WJCAA championship game for the second straight season. The Rattlers (11-2-2) host UW-Fox Valley in the title match at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Fox Valley defeated UW-Rock, 2-1, in last season’s title match. The teams played to a double-overtime tie in their regular-season match this season and shared the league title.

Mike Bier scored the only goal the Rattlers would need with assists from James Baines and Matt Santas at 32 minutes into the first half. Santa’s scored with an assist from Baines at 89 minutes to wrap up the victory.

It was the second tournament shutout in a row for the Rattlers’ and seventh overall.

“Our defense is the key,” UW-Rock coach Grant McNall said. “There are always stories on the guys who score, but our defenders have been amazing.’’

McNall said the backbone of the Rattlers consists of second-year goalkeeper Dominic Amato, second-year sweeper Matt Drew, second-year stopper Luke Witek and right defender D.J. Duran and left defender Nick Miller.

UW-Rock defeated Washington, 4-3, during the regular season enroute to a 6-0-1 mark in the WCC.

Baines, a Janesville Craig graduate, gained his team-leading eighth assist and Santas added his team-leading 13th goal.

UW-ROCK 2, UW-WASHINGTON 0

UW-Washington 0 0—0

UW-Rock County 1 1—2

First half

UWRC—Mike Bier (James Baines, Matt Santas), 32:00.

Second half

UWRC—Santas (Baines), 89:00.

Saves—W 4. Dominic Amato (UWRC) 3.