Oct. 27, 2000

MILWAUKEE-Capturing their first-ever perfect MCC record, the UWM women's soccer team came back in dramatic fashion from a two-goal deficit to defeat Loyola in overtime. The Panthers' 3-2 victory over the Ramblers lifted their conference record to 5-0 on the season, and 10-7-1 overall.

UWM's Omaha-connection provided the winning goal at the 95:13 mark in overtime. The play began when sophomore Kristin Munyon (Omaha, Neb./Burke) flicked-on a free kick from the left side and into the box. Sophomore midfielder Emily Jessen (Omaha, Neb./Marion) brought the ball down from the far post to give it to junior Julie Ruma (Omaha, Neb./Marion), who finished into the back of Loyola's net.

"I think we showed tremendous maturity, orchestrating a comeback from two-nill down," said UWM coach Michael Moynihan. "Everybody came together, the atmosphere remained very positive, and I thought we played inspired soccer. I think a lesser team would have fallen apart. I think it gives us a lot of confidence, knowing that we can come back like that."

Loyola opened scoring with a goal late in the first half from freshman midfielder Katie Koning. Koning sent the ball far post from 16 yards out past UWM goalkeeper Kerri St. Aubin in the 40th minute, giving the Ramblers the 1-0 lead. Koning added her second goal of the game off a corner kick in the 60th minute, scoring on a half-volley past second-half goalkeeping substitute Mary Duffy.

Junior Erin Blaedow continued her scoring streak for the Panthers with a goal in the 66th minute. Netting her third consecutive goal in as many games, Blaedow tucked away a shot past Loyola goalkeeper Erica Pedini off a great ball from Munyon to trail, 2-1. Munyon tallied her first assist of the game when she received the ball around the top of the box and dribbled to the center, splitting the defense to lead Blaedow to a one-on-one with the keeper.

Munyon recorded her eight goal of the season when she scored the equalizer at the 77:24 mark. The Panthers' forward rifled in a shot from 16-yards out off a corner kick sent by Jessen, giving her the team lead in scoring with 20 points.

Holding the first-seed in the MCC tournament with the perfect record, UWM will play the winner of the Butler-Loyola game in the semifinals on Friday, November 3rd. Prior to this regular season, the Panthers' best finish in the conference was 4-0-1 during the 1997 campaign. They won the MCC tournament over Butler in penalty kicks that year, sending them to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.