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

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer lost to Wisconsin 3-1 in the Big Ten Tournament final game on Sunday (Nov. 6) at the 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

Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423