Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Connecticut
Golden Eagles Rally to Defeat No. 24/13 Connecticut in Double Overtime, 3-2
10/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 9, 2009
MILWAUKEE - A resilient Marquette women's soccer team overcame a 2-0 first-half deficit to defeat No. 24/13 Connecticut, 3-2, in double overtime Friday evening on Senior Night at Valley Fields.
After the Huskies went ahead 2-0 by the 20th minute, junior Stephanie Vasos and senior Anna Sawicki helped even the score for the Golden Eagles each scoring goals late in the first half, while sophomore Rachael Sloan put away the game winner in the 108th minute. With the win the Golden Eagles improve to 9-4-1 overall (3-2-1 BIG EAST), while UConn falls to 9-4-0 (4-2 BIG EAST).
"What a great game," said head coach Markus Roeders. "From getting down on a couple of shots in the first half, where I thought we played really well, to really being scrappy and coming back. We got one back and then the second, which gave us some extra momentum. In the second half, I thought we lost a bit of our possession and how we were playing the game, but I thought we picked it back up. You have to keep knocking on the door and eventually they are going to go in. I'm so proud of our team. They worked so hard for this. These are the type of moment this program is built on. This team, tonight, added another moment in time to it. We have a lot of pride in what we do and how we do it. I'm just thrilled. I'm thrilled for our team and for our seniors. They got rewarded for what they put in."
Danielle Dankin put the Huskies scored the Huskies' first goal in the 15th minute of play when she blasted a shot from about 35 yards out into the far post beyond Kulla's reach.
The Huskies found the back of the net for the second time at the 19:59 mark when Linda Ruutu served the ball inside the box to Melissa Busque, who was positioned five yards in front of the goal mouth. Busque was able to get a foot on the ball, giving UConn the 2-0 advantage.
With just under five minutes left in the first half, the Marquette offense stepped up their game quickly eliminating the deficit. Vasos put away her second goal of the season at the 40:41 mark, when junior Lauren Thut served a ball to the far post where Vasos was positioned. Amidst the scramble of defenders, Vasos put a head on the ball, sending it over the head of UConn keeper Jessica Dulski and into the back of the net.
Just under two minutes later, Sawicki scored the equalizer. Surrounded by Connecticut defenders and about five yards out, Sawicki tapped the ball in after it had bounced off the crossbar, marking her first goal of the season.
Ashley Bares nearly scored the game winner during the 77th minute of play, when Thut, on a free kick, served the ball into the box to Bares. Bares got her head on the ball, but it traveled in the wrong direction, leaving the game tied at two at the end of regulation.
Two key saves from Dulski kept the Huskies in the game during the first overtime period. During the 97th minute of play, Julia Victor blasted a shot from 20 yards out, but Dulski was able to punch the shot up and over the net, leaving the score tied. Dulski denied Marquette another potential game-winner just moments later when she came up with a direct kick taken by Thut.
The match was decided at the 107:10 mark when Rosie Malone-Povlony fed Sloan the ball inside of the box. Sloan drew the keeper out and drilled the game winner into the far side of the net.
For the game, Marquette put up twice as many shots as Connecticut, 22-11. UConn's keeper Jessica Dulski had seven saves for the night, while Marquette keeper sophomore Natalie Kulla made one stop.
The Golden Eagles close out the home portion of the 2009 regular season against Providence Sunday at 1 p.m. at Valley Fields.
