Sept. 17, 2005

Box Score |  Notes

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin's Taylor Walsh scored two first-half goals as the No. 15 Badgers defeated the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team, 4-0, on the second day of the Big Toe Soccer Invitational, Saturday night in Madison.

"I don't think I have ever been involved in a game like this," head coach Michael Moynihan said. "It was a game where we were able to outplay a team in a number of areas and still lose 4-0. We had a number of very good individual performances tonight and I have every confidence in the world that we'll figure things out. This team has the players to do so."

Walsh put UW up in just the second minute of the match. Ann Eshun took control of a Panther clear and found Walsh at the corner of the penalty area. She turned on the ball and found the back of the net. In the 31st minute, she made it 2-0, this time off an assist from Allison Preiss.

"Taylor Walsh capitalized on her opportunities in the first half," Moynihan said. "Her first goal was a very nice shot and on her second she was able to capitalize on our mistakes."

With the exception of the two Badger goals, much of the half's action took place in the midfield, with neither team pressing much into the attacking zone. Wisconsin gained the shot advantage for the first 45 minutes, 6-3. Sophomore Joanna Severson had the Panthers' best opportunity of the frame, sending a free kick just over the cross bar from 35 yards out in the 41st minute.

In the second half Milwaukee played the aggressors, despite UW pushing its lead to 4-0 with a pair of late goals. The Panthers spent much of the half building an offensive attack and gained the shot edge, 7-4. Katy Lindenmuth scored the first goal in the 77th minute, while Preiss capped the scoring with exactly four minutes remaining.

"Trailing 2-0 at halftime, we expected to be able to come back and tie the game," Moynihan said. "We came out and were able to dictate a lot of the game in the second half. Their first shot on goal in the half goes in and it's 3-0. But, our players still came back and created nice shots. One more mistake and we fell down 4-0."

The Panthers' best opportunities came off the feet of senior Katie Campion and freshmen Jodi Klagos and Sarah Teegarden. In the 56th minute, junior Taylor Powell sent a long diagonal ball at the far post. Campion tracked it down, but had her shot saved out of bounds for a corner kick.

In the 86th minute, Klagos sent a well-stuck ball on the net, but Stefani Szczechowski made a sprawling save to preserve the shutout. With 10 seconds remaining, Teegarden had a shot glance off the cross bar.

Lynn Murray started the match for Wisconsin and made 5 saves, while Szczechowski stopped one shot in relief. Meanwhile, UWM's Erin Kane finished with two stops, including a point blank save in the 71st minute. For the match, both teams took 10 shots, six on goal, while the Panthers gained the 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Teegarden and sophomore Ginny Graczyk were named to the Big Toe Invitational All-Tournament team for their efforts over the weekend.

Milwaukee returns to action Friday, Sept. 25, with its Horizon League opener against UW-Green Bay in Green Bay, Wis. The Panthers and Phoenix kick off at 7 p.m.