Men's Final Four team previews

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is located along the Fox River in downtown Oshkosh in northeastern Wisconsin. Among the largest public universities in the state, the school offers 58 undergraduate majors,17 master's degree programs and one doctoral degree (Doctorate of Nursing Practice). Founded as a teacher-training school in 1871 with the name Oshkosh State Normal School, the institution underwent several name changes as the educational focus evolved and expanded. It became the Oshkosh State Teachers College in 1927 and the Wisconsin State College Oshkosh in 1951 and a graduate school was added in 1963 making it a fully-developed university. In its centennial year of 1971, the institution merged into the Wisconsin system and became the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Total current enrollment is approximately 13,500.

Welcome back,Titans
To University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh: welcome back. It's been a long wait for UW-Oshkosh's return to the Final Four, and the chance for redemption is never more prevalent, but possibly, never more difficult. Back in 1994, Oshkosh stormed into the Final Four for the first time in their program's history, and have exacted soccer prowess from that point on, reaching the Final Four and placing third again in 2000 and 2003 in keeping with their rich, extensive, and yet tumultuous soccer history. Since then, Oshkosh has been chasing that elusive win into the championship match ever since, coming closest in 2007 after falling victim to undefeated Loras College in the Sweet 16. But now they are back, and this time with determination to play in the championship match, win it, and cement their legacy in soccer history.

They entered this season with little hype, playing second story to UW-Whitewater in both pre-season conference championship predictors and national rankings; they were even selected to finish behind UW-Platteville. Yet they forged ahead through the season, surpassing the status of their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference counterparts, and refusing to post a single loss on the season, the only team in the nation to do so.

Embarking on arguably their best season ever, they kicked-off their campaign with a vital win against a formidable Aurora side, 2-0. They continued their streak with a 6-nil slaughtering of Olivet, a team that would at times challenge Sweet 16 finishers, Calvin. Their projected plight and susceptibility began to materialize, however, in their third match. Oshkosh allowed CCIW foe Carthage to grab a first half lead, and subsequently spent the match chasing a match that was theirs (in terms of shots and possession). A late goal from junior Jesse Klein allowed Oshkosh to salvage a draw, a sense of dignity, but most importantly, momentum. Their ability to maintain their unbeaten run provided just the momentum necessary for a deep run into the tournament. From this point on in the campaign, Oshkosh proceeded in astounding form, winning their next eleven matches, shipping just one goal, steadily climbing the rankings. A draw against Concordia-Wisconsin 12 matches later would not be enough to cause panic, and they systematically engaged in deplorable defensive procedures from their on out; deplorable for their opponents, that is. Their regular season endeavors ended with a 1-1 draw against their rival No. 15 UW-Whitewater, fitting as both teams were high in the rankings, but the match came close to ending as a major obstacle in Oshkosh's post-season as they left it late. A Tim Stadler goal from the spot in the dying moments ensured that the conference's best would play to an even, although thrilling draw.

Strength of Schedule
Oshkosh finished their season ranked 15th and undefeated, but it was here that many questioned just how good Oshkosh could be; the difficultly of scheduled matches with Findlandia, Cornell, Marian, and Lawrence, was questionable for this season. Strength of schedule often plays one of the biggest roles in determining the success of a season (certainly by the NCAA's standards), hence the reason for No. 16 DePauw and Heidleberg's omissions from the tournament. Difficult to keep an undefeated team home - a fact which is completely irrelevant considering Oshkosh's Pool B status- but the Oshkosh season bordered on the light side of strength. Entering the tournament, critics saw Oshkosh as an early victim to likes of Loras, No. 8 Wash U, or if they advanced past that point, probable losers to No. 4 Dominican, No. 10 Calvin, or even conference rivals Whitewater. Hard to say, but Oshkosh was a potentially good team in the heat of a tough bracket, and a Final Four place was not predictable.

This changed quickly. But not immediately as Oshkosh's susceptibility was put into question early on their first match, when allowing Midwest conference foe Carroll College to draw level in the 38th minute, eventually pushing the match into extra time. Oshkosh went ahead through a Brandon Briones finish following a corner in the 33rd minute, only for Carroll to level it up just three minutes later. On into extra time, and Oshkosh finally snagged the winner through Robby Giljohann seven minutes in. The goal marked just the fifth time in the season that Oshkosh fell victim to their opponents' attacks, and as of now, it could be the last.

From this point on, Oshkosh's demonstration of devastating defense has been nothing short of substantial. In their second round game, they shut down a high-flying and high-scoring North Park side, grabbing two goals in the process to win 2-0, and then entered their Sweet 16 match against none other than the very team that displaced them at this very stage three years prior. This match went very differently, however, with Giljohann hammering home a shot in just the eighth minute. It was all downhill from there for the once mighty Loras, and Tim Stadler emerged as the hero once again, nodding home the back-breaker in the 23rd minute; a mountain to climb for Loras, and an insurmountable one at that. Into the Elite 8, and Oshkosh found themselves against last year's national championship finalists Calvin. Even with a highly-talented offense and potent firepower, Calvin was reduced to firing just six shots all match, and upon shutting down any chance of Calvin scoring, Oshkosh's offense went to work breaking down Calvin's defense. The goal came at the stroke of the hour, with Stadler again rising as the hero, this time hitting a screaming free-kick from 25 yards out, and that was all that was needed as a beaten Calvin limped into elimination. Oshkosh found themselves in the Final Four for the fourth time in their history.

History
And what about Oshkosh's history? It's rich, it's exciting, it's extensive, and it's full of heartbreak. It all began in 1984 with head coach Toby Bares at the helm.  He kicked off Titan history with a loss, and wrapped up his time with a loss.  But in-between, coach Bares created a soccer legacy in Wisconsin and nationally.  His career record is 344-99-39, one of the top coaches in men's Division III history with a .754 mark through 2009, his final season before moving into a management role at the University.

In 1984, Bares saw his team lose their first three, win their first ever, and then lose two more. They found themselves on a win streak, but ended the season an abysmal 6-7. That was the last time they would ever endure a losing season. In 1985, the following year, they finished 9-6-1, the season after ended at 9-5-2, and in 1988 recorded one of their best seasons ever, finishing 15-1-2. It would not be until 1991, however, that Oshkosh received their first invitation to the NCAA tournament, and there they progressed on to the second round. With a year's hiatus, Oshkosh was back in the national tournament in 1993, this time reaching the Elite 8 in an historic season, but it would be the following year that would cement Oshkosh's place as a team to regard with respect on the national scene, as they finished third. They've since made eight tournament appearances, making it eleven tournament appearances total, where they finished third in 2000 and 2004.

Top Players, more than just defense
Anyone could be banking on a Messiah win, but these players could play a difference, and have had a significant impact throughout the season. One immediately thinks to senior defenders Jack Borski, Andy Kohel, as well as junior Will Chaney, all backed by a talented and brave keeper in junior James Pike as the reason for this team’s success, but midfielders deadly in the attack and willing to double-back as defensive players in junior Tim Stadler, junior Robby Giljohann, senior Mike Franzen, and freshman Mathias Thoma have really been a core of strength, fluidity, just pure brutal efficiency for Oshkosh. Forward seniors David Prideaux, Brian Miller and sophomore Tony Starnes have comprised a forceful 3-part attack, able to counter, move the ball down the wings, and strike with terror. They often team up with freshman sub Ryan Hanna, who has contributed his fair share of wreckage, wreaking havoc on other teams' defenses with his strength and speed. And so Oshkosh, known for their defensive valor, is far deeper than just that - something that's been plain since the start of this post-season.

Lynchburg preview | Messiah preview | Bowdoin preview

By D3soccer.com writer James Derrick