Wolverines Fall to Badgers in Big Ten Tournament Final

Sunday, November 6

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

8-9-4

Wisconsin

13-8-2

Wisconsin

Michigan

Wolverines Fall to Badgers in Big Ten Tournament Final

11/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Matt Baumer

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Field)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Final)
Score: Wisconsin 3, Michigan 1
Records: U-M (8-9-4), Wisconsin (13-8-2)
Next U-M Event: Season Completed

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer lost to Wisconsin 3-1 in the Big Ten Tournament championship game on Sunday (Nov. 6) at U-M Soccer Field. Heavy winds stifled the Michigan offense, continually pushing the ball away from its offensive side of the field in the second half. Whitney Kjar (Sandy, Utah./Skyline) scored the lone goal, the second of her career, for the Wolverines with just 1:54 left in the first half, and Megan Tuura (Tucker, Ga./St, Pius X Catholic) made seven saves in the loss.

The Wolverines created their first scoring chance of the game in the ninth minute. Judy Coffman (San Jose, Calif./Santa Theresa) served a free kick toward the goal from 25 yards, but her shot sailed just outside the right goal post.

Tuura came up huge for Michigan in the 12th minute when Elise Weber got behind the Michigan defense and ripped a low shot, but Tuura came out hard, slid and stoned Weber. The rebound chance was blocked and cleared out by Michigan's defense. Tuura then came up with another point-blank save, this time on Amy Vermeulen in the 23rd minute on a chance in close.

Michigan created another chance in the 28th minute as Melissa Dobbyn (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) sent a cross to the far post. Coffman stretched out to tip in the ball, but Wisconsin goalkeeper Lynn Murray made the save just before it crossed the line.

Wisconsin scored the first goal at 31:17 as tournament MVP Vermeulen received a feed from Marisa Brown, took a touch and fired one past Tuura from 15 yards out to move the score to 1-0.

The Maize and Blue evened the score at 43:06 after taking advantage of another free kick opportunity. Danelle Underwood (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) sent a ball into the right side of the 18-yard box to Kjar, who headed a bouncing ball into the lower left corner of the net to tie the game 1-1. Despite having the wind at their backs for the first half, Michigan could only manage one goal.

Wisconsin struck early in the second half, getting the go-ahead goal at 47:44. Vermeulen sent a ball into the six-yard box that trickled through to the far post. Both Katelin Spencer (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) and Katy Lindenmuth slid into the ball, but Lindenmuth arrived first, poking the ball into the vacated net to make the score 2-1.

The Wolverines had a tough time creating chances offensively in the second half due to strong winds in their face. Tuura made two key saves in the first 15 minutes of the second half and Michigan dodged a bullet with a Wisconsin shot hitting the post to keep it a one-goal game.

The Badgers took advantage of the wind at their backs in the 62nd minute as Vermeulen carried the ball in and took a shot from 25 yards out that picked up speed and sailed into the top left corner of the net to put the Badgers up 3-1 at 61:34.

Michigan's best chance to get back in the game came in the 80th minute. Stephanie Boyles (Arvada, Colo./Pomona) sent a free kick into the box toward the near post, but Murray snared it.

Michigan closes the season with an 8-9-4 record, and with a sub-.500 record the Wolverines are not eligible for an NCAA at-large berth, ending their eight-year streak of NCAA appearances.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Michigan	1	0	1
Wisconsin	1	2	3

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- WIS, Amy Vermeulen, 31:17 (Marisa Brown, Kara Kabellis)
1st -- U-M, Whitney Kjar, 43:06 (Danelle Underwood)
2nd -- WIS, Katy Lindenmuth, 47:44 (Brown, Vermeulen)
2nd -- WIS, Vermeulen, 61:34 (Lindenmuth)

Shots: U-M 6, WIS 25
Saves: U-M 7 (Megan Tuura), WIS 3 (Lynn Murray)
Corner Kicks: U-M 1, WIS 3
Fouls: U-M 16, WIS 19
Cards: None

NOTES

• Therese Heaton became the solo leader in games played in Michigan history with 92 in her career. She broke a three-way tie with Kacy Beitel (1997-2000) and Amy Sullivant (1999-2002).

• Whitney Kjar scored her second career goal in the first half. Her only other collegiate goal came against against Iowa State on Sept. 14, 2003. She has two goals for four points in her career. She also made her second start of the season in today's game.

• Megan Tuura made seven saves in today's game, finishing with 89 for the season, which is the fourth highest total in a season by a Wolverine goalkeeper. She made 22 saves in three games this weekend, the most in any three-game span this season.

• Judy Coffman had a team-high three shots in today's game, finishing the year with 66, good for second on the team.

• Danelle Underwood tallied her fourth assist of the season in the first half, which is tied with Katelin Spencer for the fourth most on the team. She leads all Wolverine freshmen in points with 14 (5 g, 4 a) this season. She also finished tied with Judy Coffman for third on the team in points.

• Melissa Dobbyn's streak of being the only Wolverine player to record a shot in every game this season ended in today's game.

• Katelin Spencer and Melissa Dobbyn were named to the All-Big Ten Tournament team. Dobbyn finished the tournament with two goals, and Spencer tallied one assist.

• The Wolverines finished with a 8-9-4 record, one win shy of being eligible for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Though Michigan is the only team to put a dent in No. 1 Penn State's record (19-0-1) this year, having tied the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, a team must finish the season with at least a .500 record to be eligible for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Debbie Rademacher
On the wind ... "It was a huge factor. We didn't manage it very well in the first half in terms of keeping them off the board and us getting some more shots. So in the second half, we basically had to go against 40-mile-per-hour winds. We talked about possessing and getting it to feet, but because they were getting the ball and keeping us [in our own end]. They both played great, and I think the team played great in our first two games, and today wasn't our day, and unfortunately, we couldn't hang on."

U-M Senior Midfielder Stephanie Boyles
On today's game ... "We fought until the very end and played an awesome tournament. I haven't seen us play with this much heart and such passion. We needed to pull out the wins we did earlier this week and we did, and we did that with heart. Today just wasn't our day. Everybody gave all they've got, and that's all that we can ask for. When the game's on the line, and if we give it all we've got here, we can walk away with our heads held high, but we have to get it done."

U-M Junior Defender Katelin Spencer
On making the all-tournament team ... "Right now it doesn't mean as much, but it's an honor, I guess. I've never gotten anything like that."