Michigan
12-5-3
Minnesota
11-8-1
Wolverines Drop OT Heartbreaker to Gophers in B1G Tourney
11/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Site: West Lafayette, Ind. (Boilermaker Soccer Complex)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Quarterfinals)
Score: Minnesota 1, #25 Michigan 0 (2OT)
Records: U-M (12-5-3), MINN (11-8-1)
Attendance: 509
Next U-M Event: Monday, Nov. 10 -- NCAA Selection Show (NCAA.com), 4:30 p.m.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The No. 25-ranked University of Michigan women's soccer team lost a heartbreaking match to Minnesota, 1-0, in double overtime in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, as the Golden Gophers scored the game's only goal in the 109th minute on Wednesday (Nov. 5) at Purdue's Boilermaker Soccer Complex. The match marked U-M's fourth overtime in its last five games.
With the two teams still scoreless in the 82nd minute, Minnesota's Simone Kolander got the Gopher's best chance in regulation as she put a loose ball on net from the top of the six-yard box, but U-M goalkeeper Megan Hinz was there to make the block save and keep the game scoreless.
The match was tied 0-0 after 90 minutes, and it went to overtime. In the first overtime period, Michigan tallied one shot, while Minnesota registered two. After eight minutes of scoreless play in the second overtime period, it looked as if the game would be decided by penalty kicks. But in the 109th minute, Minnesota played the ball up the left flank to the end line inside the penalty box, where Josee Stiever chipped a cross to the far post, and Minnesota's Taylor Wodnick headed in the game-winner at the goal line at 108:40.
Quality shots were hard to come by for either team in a heavy defensive battle. Minnesota took 13 shots and put just four on target, while Michigan put two of its 10 shots on net. Junior Corinne Harris led the Wolverines with four shots.
Hinz was active all night inside the penalty box for Michigan and finished the game with three saves. Gopher goalkeeper Tarah Hobbs made two saves in the win.
The Wolverines now wait to see if they will earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year. The NCAA Selection Show will take place on Monday (Nov. 10) at 4:30 p.m. It will be shown live on NCAA.com.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | OT | OT | F |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
2OT -- MINN, Taylor Wodnick, 108:40 (Josee Stiever)
Shots: U-M 10, MINN 13
Shots on Goal: U-M 2, MINN 4
Saves: U-M 3 (Megan Hinz), MINN 2 (Tarah Hobbs)
Corner Kicks: U-M 6, MINN 2
Cards: MINN, Jen Larrick, 44:19 (Yellow)
NOTES
• Michigan is 1-1-3 in overtime matches this season.
• Four of Michigan's last five matches went to overtime -- U-M went 1-1-3 over that stretch, including tonight's loss to Minnesota, a win over Illinois and ties against Purdue, Ohio State and Northwestern.
• Michigan is 17-13-4 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament, including losses in the first round in each of the last two years.
• Michigan was shut out for the fifth time this season.
• Freshman defender Alyssa Dillon made her first career start tonight, marking just her third collegiate game played. She missed the first 16 matches of the year with an injury.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Greg Ryan
On losing a heartbreaker in overtime ... "There was tremendous effort tonight. I couldn't have asked for any more from them -- I couldn't have asked for any more from them the either season. I mentioned to the team that we've had a lot of things fall our way late in games and maybe this was just universe righting itself. I walked away from the game thinking how thankful I am for this whole season. I'm excited -- and I told the team -- we look forward to what we hope is our 'second season' (NCAA Tournament). We'll get back, we get nine days of recovery, rest, training and get ready for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That's our next focus -- hopefully we've done enough to get in -- finishing third in the Big Ten won't hurt us and I think there's a good shot we'll be playing on. But first they need some rest. This is their third trip on the road in less than three weeks. But they put in an amazing effort tonight -- for as fatigued as they were, this was one of their best efforts of the year."
On the total team defensive effort tonight ... "It was the best it's been all year -- our pressure, and then winning the ball and committing to putting the ball on the ground in play. I thought it was the best it's been all year. Stu (Megan Hinz) was rock solid again, covering all the balls in behind the defense. The back line -- this was their best game by far. It was great to have Alyssa (Dillon) get in and get some minutes for us back there because that allows Madi (Lewis) to get up into the attack. The back line and Stu were so sharp, along with the midfield in front of them and our three forwards -- we were all on the same page all night long. It was by far the best we've done all year."
On focusing on just Michigan until the NCAA Selection Show ... "We're completely focused on improving ourselves and the first thing we have to improve on is our recovery -- we're dead tired. We'll give them a few days of just rest and recovery. They're going to feel great again, but that's going to be four or five days out before they feel that way. And it was the same last year -- we hit our second season and we caught our stride, got our energy back, so we're in a very similar situation to where we were last year when we lost to Iowa in the first round. If we get in the NCAA Tournament, this will end up being a positive from a stand point of being fresh and ready to go. We've been working on preparing for the next opponent for so long and now we'll have time to focus on us. You can see all the attacking possibilities that we have, we just have to tighten that up a little bit. We need to recognize when Madi (Lewis) and Taylor (Timko) come forward from the wing backs -- we've got to use them, and I felt like we missed them a lot tonight. They can add so much into our attack. Our quality in our attacking third will be a big focus and will get better as we get our legs back."
Team Stats
Wodnick, Taylor (4)
Assisted By: Stiever, Josee
Header point blank near right post on le
108:40
