The Wisconsin women’s soccer team fell to Ohio State 2-1 Sunday in the 2002 Big Ten Tournament championship game at Old College Field on the Michigan State campus. After missing the tournament last season, the Badgers reached the title game for the first time since 1996.
“I’m very proud of this team,” coach Dean Duerst said. “I think they’ve shown themselves – what they’re made of, what they can accomplish as a group. We’re a heck of a team … I don’t think we played our best game. Ohio State played a beautiful game of soccer. It was a great tournament in terms of intensity, in terms of us doing what we needed to do to get to a championship game.”
Ohio State out-shot Wisconsin 7-1 in the first half in what became the story of the game. The Buckeyes’ defense held fast throughout, and the teams played to a 0-0 tie at the half.
In the second stanza, Ohio State got on the board in the 55th minute off a corner kick. Jen Miller fired the ball into the melee in front and found Lindsay Eckles, who headed the ball in.
The Buckeyes tallied an insurance goal in the 67th minute. Emily Gilbert fired a shot from the right side, 18 yards out, that flittered in to the left corner of the net past an outstretched Kelly Conway.
Ohio State’s defensive effort continued in the second half, holding Wisconsin to three shots all game. OSU out-shot UW 18-3 in the game and led 8-4 on corner kicks.
Late in the game, junior Jenny Kundert sped down the right side past the OSU defense. Kundert charged into the box and was fouled hard, setting up a penalty kick. Senior co-captain Lauren Schmidt took the kick and cut the lead in half in the 88th minute.
The Badgers (12-8-3) will watch the NCAA selection show Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. to see if their season will continue.
-compiled from staff reports
