Oct. 24, 2004

Box Score

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Junior Elizabeth Chudy's golden goal in the 99th minute lifted the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over the University of Detroit-Mercy Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Field. In a battle of league unbeatens, the Panthers (9-7-2, 7-0 Horizon) topped the Titans (10-5-1, 6-1 Horizon)to capture their fifth-straight Horizon League Regular Season Championship and the top seed in the league tournament, Nov. 4-7, in Indianapolis.

"It's great to win our fifth championship in a row at home," head coach Michael Moynihan said. "To have the two undefeated teams going into overtime--it can't get any more exciting."

Junior Katie Campion brought the ball down the near side of the field to start the game-winning play, sending a cross to Chudy. A Titan defender managed to get a head on the ball, but was unable to clear it. Chudy collected the ball and took two touches before sending a low shot off the far post, and into the back of the net, for the winner.

"Liz had a great shot," Moynihan said. "We wanted to keep our shots low beacuse their keeper is tall and good in the air. She kept her shot low, left-footed, and hit it off the post."

Coming out of halftime the Panthers trailed 1-0 and remedied the situation in just the 47th minute, drawing an indirect free kick from the Detroit Titan penalty mark. Freshmen Joanna Severson and Amanda Winn set up on the ball, with Severson touching the ball to start the play and Winn drilling a shot to the left of the Titan wall for her first collegiate goal.

Milwaukee controlled the pace of the game throughout the first half, owning advantages of 9-1 in shots and 4-0 in corner kicks. UDM did, however, make the most of its opportunities, taking a 1-0 lead into the break.

In the 32nd minute Mandi Jasky sent a long free kick into the box where Kathy Banjavcic was able to head the ball past senior keeper Kerri St. Aubin for the score.

"Detroit is a team that we were worried to get behind on," Moynihan said. "We gave up that goal and I was concerned, but we came out in the second half and went at them."

The Panther back line looked in control the whole day, holding Detroit 10 shots below its season average and allowing just one corner. Milwaukee gain significant advantages in both categories, outshooting UDM 21-5 and forcing eight corner kicks.

St. Aubin made three stops to finish her Horizon League career with a perfect 18-0 record, including 7-0 this season. Her counterpart Alisson Dube made six stops of her own on the day.

With the win, Milwaukee is the top seed in the Horizon League Tournament for the fifth-straight season. The Panthers will play either Cleveland State of Youngstown State, pending the outcome of CSU's final two league matches.

"I think we've worked hard all season and have done everything we needed to do," Moynihan said. "We made this game about us, not Detroit, and we executed well. (This win) is a good confidence boost heading into the league tournament."

UWM closes its regular season out next Saturday (Oct. 30) when Purdue University comes to Engelmann Field. The match will be Senior Day for the Panthers, as St. Aubin, Melissa Ricter, Brenda Andrews and Sara Lewis will be playing their final home game. Kick off is slated for 2 p.m.