The UW Oshkosh women’s soccer team went 0-3 this week after falling to the University of Dubuque (Iowa), University of Chicago (Illinois) and Carthage College.

The Titans (3-4-1) gave up three second half, goals after UWO had a 2-0 halftime lead and lost to the Carthage Red Hots by a final score of 3-2.

UWO freshmen Mary Schmidt and Kylee Brown both scored in the first half for the Titans.

Carthage junior Jacey Kent scored the first goal for the Red Hots in the 52nd, cutting into the Titans lead making the score 2-1.

Carthage senior Joanne Stanfa found the back of the net twice in the final ten minutes to give Carthage the 3-2 win over the Titans.

UWO was defeated by the nationally ranked University of Chicago (Illinois) Maroons by a score of 4-0 on Sunday. This was the second-straight year where the Titans have faced the Maroons with the Maroons winning both matches.

University of Chicago shot the ball 28 times in the match with 14 of them registering on goal. The Titans were limited to just two shots and only one of them on goal.

UWO head coach Erin Coppernoll said with an opponent like the Maroons, the team has to match the intensity.

“We knew we were up against a giant,” Coppernoll said. “We have to respect that and learn from them.”

Coppernoll said the Titans need to be more organized in the defensive third against such a strong offensive attack.

“We had miscues in the back that led to the majority of their goals,” Coppernoll said.

Coppernoll said she was pleased with the effort her team showed despite the result.

“It wasn’t the result we wanted, but I was impressed by how hard we competed in the second half,” Coppernoll said. “You have to learn from your opponent.”

UWO midfielder Maddie Morris said playing nationally ranked opponents only makes the team better.

“Not many teams get the opportunity to go to against a team of that quality so that can be an advantage for us,” Morris said. “Playing challenging teams is something coach has always wanted to do because having a high strength of schedule is important for the team so that we can improve and be challenged every game.”

Last Friday the Titans fell to the University of Dubuque by a score of 2-1. UWO trailed by two scores for the majority of the game until an own goal in the 87th minute by the Spartans.

Coppernoll said despite the loss, the Titans played a much better game after halftime adjustments.

“Unfortunately, in the first half [in the Dubuque game] we were very flat,” Coppernoll said. “We really had zero offense. We talked about it during halftime, and I thought we really came out and competed in the second half.”

Coppernoll said it takes a complete performance to beat a team like the Spartans.

“If we play a full 90, minute game like we played that second half, maybe we win that game,” Coppernoll said.

Coppernoll said making adjustments in the attacking third resulted in the own goal.

“We put them under a ton of pressure,” Coppernoll said. “We created havoc in the offensive third and ended up getting a goal out of it.”

UWO forward Delaney Karl said the Titans need to pick up the intensity early if they want to compete.

“A full 90 minute game is when we come out in the first half strong and ready to play,” Karl said.

“In some games in the past, we’ve waited for the second half to pick up our intensity and fight for the W, but coach wants us to come out right away with that desire to win and compete.”

Karl said that as a team leader, she needs to spark the team from the opening whistle.

“Being a captain, I need to bring that desire to win right from the start and encourage my teammates to want that intensity as well,” Karl said.