Box Score |  Notes

GREEN BAY, Wis. (Nov. 4, 2005) - Senior Nicole Motl scored her first career goal in the 105th minute to carry the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team into the Horizon League Championship with a 1-0, double-overtime victory over Butler Friday evening in Green Bay.

The Panthers (12-4-3) outshot the Bulldogs (8-10-2) 24-3 on the night, but No. 24 proved to be key as Milwaukee now moves onto the league title game for the second-straight year and eighth time overall. UWM awaits the winner of No. 2 Detroit and No. 6 Loyola and will play the championship game Sunday at noon.

Freshman Sarah Teegarden started the play, sending a ball into the far corner. Sophomore Claire Pignet received the ball, beating her defender and cutting inside. Her cross came to Motl, who one-timed a ball at the net. Her shot glanced off a Bulldog defender attempting to clear the ball and went past keeper Kirby Zwickel far post for the game-winner.

"We'd all been around soccer to know that it can be a crazy game, you can dominate in a game and still not come away with the win," head coach Michael Moynihan said. "At halftime, after regulation and the first overtime, we told the team to keep pressing and our chances will come."

With some notable exceptions, Milwaukee controlled the tempo from the opening kick. The Panthers did not allow a BU shot until the 57th minute, on their way to a 12-0 shot advantage at halftime. UWM almost broke the scoreless tie in the 24th minute, when sophomore Ginny Graczyk took a short corner kick and sent a cross far post. Junior Taylor Powell had a clear header, but saw her shot cleared out of danger by a defender stationed on the far post.

Butler's first shot proved to be its most dangerous, as Meredith Buemi took a long pass and fought off a Panther defender to get the team's first shot of the match, a low liner wide of the near post from six yards out. The team's other two shots came in the first overtime, as it drew a free kick from just outside the penalty area. UWM's defensive wall held up and the rebound sailed over the bar safely.

After a 6-1 second-half edge in shots, Milwaukee took six shots in the two overtime periods, sending five on goal. It also forced three of its nine corner kicks on the day after regulation.

"Heading into overtime we were starting to get a little frantic. We were controlling the play, but we were forcing and not creating," Moynihan said. "In overtime we started connecting passes better. They played more focused and intelligent in the final third."

Freshman keeper Erin Kane tied a league record with her 11th shutout of the season, while not being forced to make a save for the second-straight game. The Panther defense has now posted four-straight shutouts, not allowing a goal since Oct. 16, a span of 407:31. Meanwhile, Zwickel made six stops on the night for Butler, including four in overtime.

"Our defense is pretty well in sync at this point," Moynihan said. "Janice (McGann) is experience and organizes well. Becca (Englund) is a ball winner and both her and Ginny (Graczyk) have the speed to recover. They are each experienced and determined to have a successful year."

UWM has won six-straight games and is unbeaten in its last 11 (10-0-1).