Oct. 30, 2002

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer player Elizabeth Chudy certainly has a flair for the dramatic. Three days after sending the game with crosstown rival Marquette into overtime with a timely late score, the hometown hero's "golden goal" in the 100th minute helped Milwaukee clinch the 2002 Horizon League title with a 1-0 overtime victory over the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay here Wednesday (Oct. 30). With the victory, UWM improves to 8-5-5 on the season and 5-0-1 in league play while the Phoenix fall to 4-10-2 and 1-3-2 in conference action. Milwaukee has now won three straight Horizon League regular season titles and have played in 17 straight league matches without a loss.

"We knew it would be a tough game coming in and it certainly turned out that way," UWM head coach Michael Moynihan said. "It's nice to win three league titles in a row but it isn't getting any easier. This was a tough year and we really got tested in every match. But, we made it through it and will get a bye in the tournament and an extra day of rest."

Persistence and patience were the keys to victory on Wednesday as the Panthers peppered the UWGB net, and goalkeeper Darci White in particular, with a barrage of shots all match long. The junior White was up to task all game, making 14 stops in a wide variety of fashions while facing a total of 25 UWM shots. Milwaukee took 10 shots in the first half and 14 in the second before finally connecting on its only attempt in extra time. Of the 25 shots, 11 were taken by the always-aggressive Chudy.

"Liz needs to work on staying focused throughout an entire match and I think she is getting better at that," noted Moynihan. "She is very creative with the ball and very spontaneous. She has an attacking mentality and she's aggressive and talented in the air and that's how she won the game tonight."

The Panthers missed golden opportunity after golden opportunity all afternoon long, while the defense stiffled any UW-Green Bay counterattack. In addition to Chudy, freshman Maria Iaizzo and senior Amy Oechsner combined for seven overall shots, with two Iaizzo headers hitting the post within a minute of each other. Oechsner pressured the Phoenix defense with strong left side runs while senior Maggie Suminski created chances with excellent serves into the penalty area.

Finally, after two full periods and a half of one overtime, UWM found the net for the clinching goal. Suminski served the Panthers' 12th corner kick of the match into the box where it was cleared out. UWM's Jeney Walter then sent the ball back into the corner to Suminski who sent another drive into the box. This time Chudy flew in front of the left post and headed the ball into the net for the game-winner. The goal was the team-leading sixth of the year for Chudy while Suminski notched her team-best sixth assist on the season.

Milwaukee will finish the regular season on Friday (Nov. 1) with a 6:00 p.m. contest with Valparaiso University. The game will take place at Uihlein Park as the Panthers prepare to host the 2002 Horizon League Tournament. The tourney will be held Nov. 7-10 with games being played at both Engelmann Field and Uihlein Soccer Park. UWM hold's the No. 1 seed in the tournament and will receive a first-round bye.