UW Wins 2005 Big Ten Tournament
November 06, 2005 | Women's Soccer
The Wisconsin women's soccer team claimed its first Big Ten tournament title since 1994 with a 3-1 win over Michigan Sunday in the championship game. Senior Amy Vermeulen tallied two goals while classmate Katy Lindenmuth also scored what proved to be the game-winner. Marisa Brown had two assists in the Badger victory.
By winning the tournament, the seventh-seeded Badgers (13-8-2) earned the Big Ten Conference's automatic bid to the 2005 NCAA Tournament; the bracket will be announced Monday.
Vermeulen, who totaled six goals in the tournament, was named Offensive MVP. Her assist on Lindenmuth's goal at 47:44 ultimately proved the difference, and her score at 61:34 gave UW its insurance goal. She also tallied her second career hat trick against Purdue in the first round.
Wisconsin gave up just two goals in three matches with the help of senior defender Jessica Ring; subsequently, she was named Defensive MVP. She also had the game-winning goal against Michigan State in the semifinals, her first of the season.
Both players were named to the all-tournament team, in addition to Brown, who had four assists in the tournament.
The game was knotted 1-1 at the start of the second half but it did not take long for the Badgers to take the lead. Lindenmuth scored at 47:44 following a cross from Brown. Lindenmuth, playing on the left side, tapped the ball over the endline to put Wisconsin up 2-1. Vermeulen also was credited with an assist on the play.
Wisconsin got an insurance goal at 61:34 from Vermeulen, her second of the game. Following a long pass from Lindenmuth, Vermeulen gathered the ball and fired her shot from 25 yards out. It said over Michigan goalkeeper Megan Turra and the Badgers took a 3-1 lead.
Wisconsin outshot Michigan 25-6 in the game, including an 18-2 mark in the second half along. The Badgers also had a 301 advantage on corner kicks.
Murray had another strong outing in the net, recoding three saves. Turra finished with seven saves.
Wisconsin was first to score when Vermeulen put one through at 31:17. Kara Kabellis got the ball to Brown, who pushed it onto Vermeulen. Vermeulen beat a Michigan defender on the dribble and past the Michigan keeper.
Michigan would answer with a score of its own at 43:06. Following a Wisconsin foul, Danelle Underwood took a free kick and crossed the ball to the right side of the field. Whitney Kjar was there to put head the ball past Murray to tie the game at one.
Wisconsin (13-8-2) will await to see where it will play in the NCAA tournament, which is set to begin Thursday at 16 first and second round sites.
