Badgers fall 2-1 in OT
October 27, 2009 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 1, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- The rainy weather and cold temperatures didn't hold back the heat of the Border Battle rivalry as Wisconsin faced off against Minnesota on Thursday night in a heartbreaking loss that would snap the Badgers seven game home unbeaten streak. After a hard fought battle that was held off after an hour weather delay, the game was decided in overtime by a penalty kick giving the Gophers the 2-1 win.
"I give credit to Minnesota," said Wisconsin head coach Paula Wilkins after the game. "They stepped up and we didn't respond. We started reacting instead of being proactive in the second half and that cost us. It was a well played game to go into overtime but it's disappointing to end such a hard fought game on a penalty kick."
The two teams went shot-for-shot in the first half with five each, but the Badgers had the upper hand scoring early on in the first half leading 1-0 at the break.
In repeated fashion from Wisconsin's lone goal last week against Purdue, Meghan Flannery scored off a corner kick in the 24th minute of play. She bent her shot in off the corner kick past Minnesota's keeper Cat Parkhill to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead.
Flannery, who got three corners in a row, capitalized on her third shot. Each shot prior was punched out by Parkhill to set up yet another corner. Minutes later, UW put up three more corner kicks, two of which were punched out past the end line as Flannery placed the ball near the goal line every time.
UW's keeper, Michele Dalton was able keep the Gophers scoreless stepping up with a diving save in the last two minutes of the first half. Dalton would add two more diving saves and ended the game with eight.
With the pressure on Minnesota coming in to the second half, the Gophers stepped up their game outshooting Wisconsin 13-3 in the second half. In the 50th minute of play, Minnesota was able to convert a shot to tie up the game. While the Badgers tried to clear the ball, Angie Olson recovered and put a 20-yard shot past Dalton.
Both teams fought back and forth for the rest of regulation play with Dalton coming up with her third diving save to take the game into overtime.
Wisconsin was unable to get a shot on goal, as the Gophers continued attacking connecting three shots on net and setting up the eventual game-winning penalty kick. At 98:06 Katie Bethke beat Dalton low and to the left to shatter UW's home and Big Ten unbeaten streak. The Badgers now fall to 5-5-2 and 1-1-1 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota improves to 8-2-2 and 2-0-1.
Minnesota outshot the Badgers 21-8 as Parkhill made two saves for Minnesota. Each team ended the game with eight corners each.
Next up the Badgers hit the road as they travel to Iowa on Sunday, Oct. 4. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. against the Hawkeyes and will be broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network.
Julie McKay
Wisconsin Athletic Communications
