Booters clinch share of BRC title

• Mariah Kaiser

Wildcat senior Mariah Kaiser (18) beats a Menomonie defender around the corner in the first half of the Cats’ 7-0 victory over the Indians Thursday at Wildcat Field. The win clinched at least a share of the Big Rivers Conference title for River Falls. The Cats donned special pink uniforms for the game as part of their “Kickin’ Cancer” fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Bob Burrows photo

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The Wildcat girls’ soccer team clinched at least a share of its second straight Big Rivers Conference championship with a 7-0 shutout over Menomonie Thursday at Wildcat Field.

Two days earlier, the Cats knocked off previously unbeaten Eau Claire Memorial, 1-0, in Eau Claire.

The two victories give River Falls a record of 10-0-1 in BRC play, 15-0-1 overall. It can win the BRC title outright with a victory Thursday at Rice Lake.

Last Tuesday’s win over Eau Claire Memorial avenged the only blemish on the Wildcats’ record this season, a 1-1 tie with the Old Abes on April 21. The one goal in the game is the only goal the Cats have allowed all season. They have outscored their BRC opponents 39-1 and hold a 70-1 scoring advantage overall.

Bailey LaPoint scored the only goal of the game in last Tuesday’s victory at Eau Claire when she knocked in a Mariah Kaiser cross less than 10 minutes in.

Wildcat goalkeeper Paige Meyer made three saves, including a off-balance tip of a shot over the crossbar in the final minute that would have tied the score. The Cats outshot Memorial 10-8.

Thursday, in the Cats’ “Kickin’ Cancer” game against Menomonie, Sarah Vitale and Jenna Kizlik had two goals and an assist each and Meyer recorded her 15th shutout in a 7-0 Wildcat victory.

LaPoint and Tara Frey each contributed a goal and an assist and Sandra Meyer added a goal while Elise Heiman, Brenna Swanson and Taylor Kizlik earned an assist apiece.

Vitale, the reigning BRC Player of the Year, leads the conference in scoring this season with 22 goals and 11 assists for 55 points while Paige Meyer currently sports a goals against average of 0.07.

Thursday’s regular season finale kicks off at 7 p.m. in Rice Lake. The opening round of the WIAA regional playoffs is set for Thursday, June 2.

Tags: sports, wildcats, soccer, prep