Women's Soccer Ties Michigan State
September 28, 2001 | Women's Soccer
The Wisconsin women's soccer team played Michigan State to a 0-0 tie in double overtime Friday afternoon in East Lansing, Mich. The Badgers are 1-0-2 in three double-overtime games this season.
Entering today's game, the Badgers and Spartans shared overall records, Big Ten records and the distinction of being shutout in their Big Ten contests this season. After today's game, the story remains the same.
'It's just disappointing,' coach Dean Duerst said. 'Only one point in the Big Ten after three games is not the way we wanted to start, but we know we can still turn it around.'
The statistics reflect the score as the Spartans (3-3-2, 0-2-1) narrowly edged the Badgers (3-3-2, 0-2-1) in corner kicks, 7-6 and shots 12-11. Even the number of fouls was eerily similar at 33 for Sparty and 30 for Bucky. UW's small advantage came in saves, 7-6. And, as one would guess in a 0-0 game, the goalkeepers on both squads stole the spotlight.
In the first half, freshman Amy Vermeulen's (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) strong, hard free kick was deflected toward the net, but Spartan goalkeeper Stacy Heller made a flying save to keep the Badgers off the board. Badger keeper, junior Kelly Conway (Littleton, Colo.), was the key stopper in the second half, making six of her seven total saves. UW and MSU also exchanged breakaways, but in each instance, the goalkeeper came away victorious.
'Both keepers really were the difference,' Duerst said. 'They each came up with big plays. It's not like they were tremendously busy, but the key saves were very big.'
Both teams' frustration was evident in the second half when the game started to get rough. Three Badgers received yellow cards in the closing minutes of regulation and in overtime. And in 30 minutes of overtime, UW racked up 10 fouls to MSU 's nine whistles.
'We're just not clicking as a team,' Duerst said. 'Earlier in the season we were clicking and we're just looking to try and get that back.'
Wisconsin will be searching for its first win and first goal in Big Ten play this season on Sunday against Michigan. The Badgers face the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich., at noon.
