Badgers Drop 1-0 Heartbreaker to Michigan
November 04, 2004 | Women's Soccer
For the second straight year, the University of Wisconsin's 25th-ranked women 's soccer team fell to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament, this time in a 1-0 loss in the first round.
Sixth-seeded UW (15-5-1) looked to avenge its 2003 second-round loss to the No. 3 seed Wolverines (11-7-2), but instead it was edged in shots (15-13) and corner kicks (7-3) en route to having its seven-match winning streak snapped.
'It was an intense game, and I'm proud of the way our team played,' head coach Dean Duerst said. 'It was frustrating that we didn't convert all the opportunities we had, but I'm still happy with how we competed.'
Forward Melissa Dobbyn of Michigan punched in a goal at 81:51 for her third game-winning score of the season. She also racked up three shots.
Sophomore midfielder Kara Kabellis (Homer Glen, Ill.) tallied three shots to lead the Badgers, who had several scoring chances right in front of the goal but each time missed high.
Three other UW players had two shots apiece to help even the 9-5 shot discrepancy that Wisconsin faced in the first half. In fact, both teams played evenly throughout the second half.
That is, until what seemed like an eventual overtime match turned into a UM victory when forward Therese Heaton managed to get the ball to Dobbyn, who scored from just outside the box.
And with less than 10 minutes remaining, Wisconsin unfortunately could not answer.
The Badgers will now wait to see if they will have their season extended when the teams for the 2004 NCAA championship are announced at 3 p.m. Monday on ESPNEWS.
