Michigan Drops Double-Overtime Thriller, 1-0

Sunday, October 31

Lexington, Ky.

3:00 PM

Michigan

Kentucky

10/31/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Michigan women's soccer team dropped a heartbreaking double-overtime game 1-0 to the 14th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in the final game of the Big Ten/SEC Challenge on Sunday (Oct. 31). The match was just the latest in a series which has now featured four classic games, including last season's 1-0 Michigan victory in which the Wolverines scored in the game's final moments.

Kentucky scored the winning goal with 7:53 remaining in the second overtime. Annie Gage won back a ball on the right wing and slid a 15-yard pass to Keri Boyce at the top of the box. Boyce juked around a defender, took a stride in and ripped a seven-yard blast into the upper right corner.

The teams battled through a scoreless regulation with both teams creating few opportunities to score. The Wolverines drew regulation's two closest chances. At 28:10 of the first half, Amy Sullivant (Utica, Mich./Eisenhower HS) sent a free kick from 35 yards out into the goal area, and the ball was mishandled by the Kentucky goalie, slipped out of her hand and bounced toward the goal line before being cleared by the UK defense.

In the second half, Kacy Beitel (Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow HS) nearly broke the scoreless tie. With 32:00 remaining, Amber Berendowsky (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) played a long ball down the wing to Marie Spaccarotella (Livonia, Mich./Churchill HS). Spaccarotella took the ball to the end line and served a centering feed which Beitel directed toward the net. Kentucky's keeper made the original save and the ball bounced around within the five-yard area before squirting out toward midfield.

However, Kentucky got the best opportunities in the first overtime period with a pair of breakaways, but the Michigan defense organized and closed down both before the Wildcats could convert.

Michigan returns to action next weekend (Nov. 5-7) for the Big Ten Tournament in Bloomington, Ind. The Wolverines open the tournament against Michigan State at 3 p.m. next Friday (Nov. 5).

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	OT	OT	F
Michigan	0	0	0	0	0
Kentucky	0	0	0	1	1

Scoring, Time (Assist)
OT -- UK, Keri Boyce, 112:07 (Annie Gage)

Shots: U-M 9, UK 15
Saves: U-M 8 (Carissa Stewart), UK 3 (Beth Wells)
Corner Kicks: U-M 0, UK 6
Fouls: U-M 22, UK 16
Cards: U-M, Alissa Shaw, 93:56 (yellow)

Contact: Jay Levin (734) 763-4423