Badgers Stun Top-Seeded Penn State
November 06, 2003 | Women's Soccer
Just 18 days ago, the Wisconsin women's soccer team traveled to Penn State and endured its worst loss in five seasons, falling 5-0 to the Nittany Lions. That loss seemed like an eternity ago Thursday night as the eighth-seeded Badgers stunned the top-seeded Nittany Lions, winning in a shootout in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament at the McClimon Complex.
The game technically ended in a 0-0 tie after two overtimes, but Wisconsin advances to a semifinal meeting with Michigan thanks to a 4-3 victory in the shootout.
After 110 minutes of scoreless play, the two teams turned to penalty kicks to settle the issue. Both teams converted on each of its first three attempts before UW keeper Stefani Szczechowski made a diving save on Stephanie Smith's shot in the fourth round. Jessica Ring then stepped up and put her shot past Penn State's Amanda Brown to put Wisconsin up 4-3. When Leigh Hamilton's shot hit off the post, Badger players rushed the field in victory and top-seeded Penn State was sent home with an opening round loss for the second consecutive year.
Wisconsin employed a much more defensive approach than in its first meeting with Penn State and the strategy paid off. The Nittany Lions never got untracked and despite being outshot 27-10 in the contest, Wisconsin had virtually as many quality scoring chances as the nation's sixth-ranked team. PSU outshot the Badgers 21-10 during regulation and then held a combined 6-0 edge in the two overtimes.
The Nittany Lions also held a 12-6 edge in corner kicks. However, Wisconsin never allowed Penn State to get out and run and get behind its back line of defense. It was just the second time PSU has been shutout this season and the first time since a scoreless tie with Rutgers on Sept. 19.
Szczechowski made nine saves for Wisconsin, while the team was credited with another save. Brown made six stops in goal for Penn State.
The Badgers improved to 4-0 all-time in Big Ten tournament games held at the McClimon Complex. UW went 3-0 and won the tournament the only other time it hosted the event in 1994.
Wisconsin will take on fourth-seeded Michigan at 7:30 Friday. The Wolverines posted a 2-1 double-overtime win over Ohio State, the No. 5 seed.
