Badger Rally Falls Short Versus No. 14 Michigan
September 27, 2002 | Women's Soccer
The Wisconsin women's soccer team came back from a two-goal deficit in the second half, but couldn't top No. 14 Michigan, falling 3-2, at the McClimon Soccer Complex Friday night. The Badgers drop to 3-5-2 overall and 0-2-1 in Big Ten play, while the Wolverines improve to 8-1, 3-1.
'We didn't come out as committed as they were in the beginning and we got caught in transition,' coach Dean Duerst said. 'In the second half we adjusted to the speed and the players.'
Michigan took a quick 2-0 lead during just over a minute of play in the first half. In the 18th minute, Stephanie Boyles passed the ball up the left side to Michele Pesiri who fired the ball into the middle to senior Abby Crumpton. Crumpton briefly dribbled the ball in front of UW keeper Kelly Conway and sent it in for the score.
One minute and six seconds later, Crumpton received an Amy Sullivant pass and moved in on Conway on a breakaway. Crumpton lofted the ball just over Conway 's outstretched arms for her second tally of the night.
'We're a very good team,' Duerst said. 'We just need to come out and start better'we found ourselves in the second half.'
Entering the second half in a 2-0 hole, the Badgers came out and answered Michigan's speed of play in the 54th minute. Junior Jenny Kundert moved the ball up the right side from midfield and fired a shot from about 30 yards out in front. Kundert's ball sailed into a perfect location for her third goal of the year: just below the cross bar and just over the outstretched arms of Michigan's keeper Suzie Grech.
The Badgers tied the game up in the 63rd minute after some exciting play in front of the net. The commotion started with Katy Lindenmuth cross, who was near the left post. Lindenmuth crossed the ball into the box and after a couple headers kept the ball near net, the ball dribbled onto the field on the right side. Rookie Carolyn Nosbusch crossed it back to the left side and a sliding Lindenmuth sent it in low, for her second goal of the year, to knot the game up at 2-2.
Five minutes later, Crumpton put Michigan on her back once more for the winning score and a hat trick. Crumpton fired a low rocket from the left side that Conway got a piece of, but it dribbled through to put UM up 3-2.
Wisconsin outshot Michigan 10-8, holding a 6-4 advantage in the second period with some good opportunities. Senior Jess Wolff and sophomore Amy Vermeulen put the pressure on Grech in the second half, but couldn't capitalize. Four of the five Badgers' losses this season have come against ranked competition and all losses have been one-goal games.
The Badgers face Michigan State Sunday at the McClimon Soccer Complex at noon.
