Nov. 16, 2001

MILWAUKEE -Katherine Kannenberg ended UWM's ride in the NCAA Tournament when she scored the golden goal in double overtime to lift Dartmouth, 1-0, Friday night at Valley Fields. The Panthers finish their season at 15-5, while the Big Green advance to the second round and play the winner of the Michigan vs. Marquette game.

"We worked our butts off and I thought we were going to get one," UWM junior midfielder Katie Kubacki said. "We let one slip through, but it could easily have been anyone's game."

"It's a tough way to end it," UWM coach Michael Moynihan said. "I thought we played well and I really thought we were going to get it. Everyone is still in shock."

Momentum in the attack changed from team to team during the game, but both teams fought hard throughout. The Panthers seemed to wear down the Big Green with their pressure, and had the upper hand since the last 15 minutes of regulation. But Dartmouth broke on a counterattack to surprise UWM.

The play began when midfielder Mary McVeigh took a quick pass and dribbled through the midfield with speed. She attacked straight to UWM's defense, who were dropping back to cover the counterattack, and slotted it through for Kannenberg to run on to. Kannenberg, a freshman out of local Whitefish Bay High School, dribbled into the box and took on a UWM player 1v1. She cut past the defender twice to create her shot, hitting the top inside of the near post. The ball fell down and rolled across the inside of the goaline to score in the 112th minute.

"It came out of nowhere," Moynihan said of the gamewinner. "I thought our defense was solid all game, not giving up chances. But we got isolated one-on-one, and that was it. It wasn't a bad goal, but it was just very unexpected."

UWM's Amy Oechnser had a good chance to score on a breakaway in the 100th minute, but shot wide near post to keep the game scoreless. Oechsner contributed with two of Milwaukee's five shots on the game, while Dartmouth tallied seven shots for the slight advantage. Both goalkeepers, including UWM's Kerri St. Aubin, recorded two saves.

"I thought it was a good exhibition of soccer for Milwaukee," Moynihan said. "We had great fan support for a great atmosphere. It's one loss in a tough game. But this team has achieved so much that this game won't negate the success we've been around all year. This team's chemistry is the best I've ever been around, and nothing can take that away."

The Panthers end the season as the second team in the program to make it to the NCAA Tournament, as 1997 was the first. This season marks the most successful year in school history, as UWM ends with a school-record 15 wins and winning percentage of .750. The Panthers won both the Horizon League Regular-Season Championship and Tournament Championship without allowing a single goal in league play.