Women's Soccer Falls in Big Ten Opener, 3-0
September 21, 2001 | Women's Soccer
The No. 23 Wisconsin women's soccer team dropped its Big Ten opener to Purdue, 3-0 Friday at the McClimon Soccer Complex. The Badgers fall to 3-2-1 overall, 0-1 Big Ten, while the Boilermakers improve to 4-2, 1-0.
The Boilermakers jumped on the Badgers early with a goal in the first six minutes of the game. Katie Redmond scored her first goal of the season and the game winner from a Lauren Sesselmann pass.
'A quick goal will really give a team momentum,' coach Dean Duerst said. 'And it deflated us to some extent.'
Purdue struck again six minutes later off a free kick. The ball ricocheted off Sesselmann and in past junior Kelly Conway (Littleton, Colo.), who made five saves on the night.
'We were not together in the beginning of this game, ' Duerst said.
Annette Kent scored the third and final goal, launching the ball over the outstretched arms of Conway. With a 3-0 lead heading into the second half, the Boilermakers met a different Wisconsin team in the final period. UW's top scorers, including Kelly Kundert (Madison, Wis.) and Amy Vermeulen (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) created some openings for the Badgers; however the Badgers couldn't capitalize on any chances.
'It's kind of disappointing for your attacking players, because they had opportunities,' Duerst said. 'But you have to move on, you have to regroup, you have to stay together, you have to stay united. You have to do what Purdue did today; they came in here and went for it.'
The Badgers conclude their Big Ten season-opening homestand on Sunday when they face Indiana at the McClimon Soccer Complex at noon.
