Michigan
Wisconsin
Michigan Buries Wisconsin with First-Half Flurry
11/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. C- The University of Michigan women's soccer team scored four times in a 20-minute stretch of the first half to build a 4-0 lead, and the No. 3-seeded Wolverines held on for a 4-2 win over No. 2 seed Wisconsin on Friday (Nov. 3) in the Big Ten Conference Tournament semifinals at Illini Soccer Field. With the win in the very physical semifinal game, the Wolverines advance to the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament for the second straight year.
The Wolverines got off to an early start with a goal from senior forward Marie Spaccorotella (Livonia, Mich./Churchill HS) at 14:05. Spaccarotella caught a pass off of a free kick from sophomore midfielder Vicky Whitley (Spring, Texas/Klien HS) to put Michigan on the board.
At 25:14, freshman forward Stephanie Chavez (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood HS) scored off a cross-field pass from senior forward Kacy Beitel (Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow HS) to put the Wolverines up 2-0. Beitel found the net with a goal of her own less than three minutes later, at 27:36, as she stole the ball from a Wisconsin player and dribbled through the defenders before striking the ball past U-W goalkeeper Kelly Conway.
Rounding out Michigan's scoring was sophomore midfielder Michele Pesiri (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy). Pesiri took a cross pass from Spaccarotella at 33:17 and shot it high into the right end of the net, making Michigan's lead 4-0.
The Badgers got on the board with an unassisted goal by Jenny Kundert with 50 seconds left in the first half.
The second half of the game was rough and physical, as both teams continuously battled for the ball. Wisconsin found the net one last time, at 86:43, on an unassisted goal by Allison Wagner. Her shot bounced off the right post and dropped into the net behind Michigan senior netminder Carissa Stewart (Topsham, Maine/Mt. Ararat HS). Stewart improved her season record to 7-5-1.
Michigan will bid to become the first team to repeat as Big Ten Tournament champion when the Wolverines face No. 1-seeded Penn State on Sunday (Nov. 5) at 2 p.m. at the Illini Soccer Field. The Nittany Lions defeated Illinois 2-1 in triple overtime to advance to the championship game.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, Marie Spaccarotella, 14:05 (Vicky Whitley)
1st -- U-M, Stephanie Chavez, 25:14 (Kacy Beitel)
1st -- U-M, Beitel, 27:26 (unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Michele Pesiri, 33:27 (Spaccarotella)
1st -- UW, Jenny Kundert, 44:10 (unassisted)
2nd -- UW, Allison Wagner, 86:43 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 22, UW 15
Saves: U-M 5 (Carissa Stewart), UW 9 (Kelly Conway)
Corner Kicks: U-M 4, UW 5
Fouls: U-M 22, UW 13
Cards: UW, Kelly Kundert, 16:05 (yellow); UW, Natalie Roedler, 57:43 (yellow)
Contact: Valerie Perkin (734) 763-4423
