Women's Soccer Ties No. 3 Notre Dame
September 09, 2001 | Women's Soccer
By playing to a 2-2 tie Sunday afternoon, the Wisconsin women's soccer team accomplished what few teams have done at Alumni Field in South Bend, Ind. The Badgers overcame a 2-1 deficit and prevented a Fighting Irish victory, breaking Notre Dame 's home win streak.
Nearly unstoppable at home, the Irish, who own a 102-3-2 record in their last 107 home games, were coming off their 29th-consecutive home win. Denying ND of its 30th-straight win, the Badgers broke their own mark ' a 10 game losing streak to the Irish.
'It was one of the most exciting games to be a part of, ' coach Dean Duerst said. 'We certainly had opportunities to win the game and that was exciting.'
The Badgers got on the board first with an early goal from senior Kelly Kundert (Madison, Wis.). Kundert's second goal of the year was unassisted. Monica Gonzalez responded for Notre Dame at the 27:54 mark and the score was knotted at one at the end of the first half.
'Overall, it was an even game,' Duerst said. 'But Notre Dame was very dangerous, obviously the best team we've seen all year. They're a kind of team you can learn a lot from because they are talented.'
Using excellent placement, Notre Dame took the lead in the second half on another high shot over junior Kelly Conway (Littleton, Colo.), who made six saves. Conway made four of her six saves in the overtime periods, including a couple spectacular game saving stops.
'The two Kellys were outstanding,' said Duerst of Conway and Kundert. 'It was Conway's effort in goal that put us in position to win.'
And it was Kundert who provided the tie. With less than 10 minutes left, Kundert fired in a pass from freshman Kristen Betz (Pewaukee, Wis.) to send the game into extra periods.
The Irish outshot the Badgers 18-12 and had more corner kicks (7-4), but it was the Wisconsin defense and team play that kept UW in the game.
'People raised their level of play individually, but to also do so as a team; that's what made the difference,' Duerst said. 'We really got solid performances out of a lot of players, I could go down the list and talk about everybody.'
The Badgers (2-1-1) open their home schedule this weekend facing Maine Sept 14 and Evansville Sept. 15 at the Rocky Rococo Invitational.
