Out With The Non-League, In With The League

Sept. 24th- Another Big Ten Team Beat Down by the Panthers

We started of quickly against Northwestern. I played the ball into Kreuser, who made a run to the outside left, pulling their central defense apart. She laid it back to me, I laid it back to Kayla about 35 yards out on the left side, with their defensive still pulled apart, Kayla served the ball into the box. Talbert, with one of the sweetest flicks I have seen, sent it to Kenzie on the opposite side of the box (right side) who placed the ball far post past their keeper. 1-0. It was a great build up that I am sure I didn’t do justice to.

Our second goal was of a different nature… the crazy nature of Sarah Hagen, that is. Our team has struggled in the past with scoring, that hole has been filled and then some. She has scored 11 goals in 11 games. Sammy Vovos flicked the ball onto Hagen, who dribbled to the left corner of the 18 yard box, then with her left foot, her non-dominant foot, hit a shot line drive, far post and side netting, keeper diving but no chance. 2-0.

We went into half 2-0. We had contained their physical presence and contained any attack they tried to present us with. The second half we looked to do the same. However, they came out throwing numbers forward, both outside backs getting into the attack, and once again we contained them well. We organized through the middle well, covered and balanced every pressuring player. It wasn’t until late in the game, that our midfield got pulled too far to the left with no balance and couldn’t recover to clear a ball bouncing around the box, 2-1.

We walk away from this game, 3-0 against Big Ten Teams. Heading into conference, I don’t know what will be able to stop us.

Editor’s Note: Milwaukee is the only school in the nation with three wins against Big Ten school’s this season.

Side Note: I have been reading some other blogs to see how they are writing them and if there is something more I could bring to the table here. After reading a few I have come to this thought.

I enjoying writing this slightly-to-moderately biased blog (hence, the need for an editor) for Panther fan entertainment. I recognize the success and/or failure we may have accomplished and hope to show those who couldn’t make the games the outcome, unfortunately you have to bear with some cheesy Wisconsin humor. We are not your picture perfect team, we have flaws and funny quirks (Teegarden’s Gumby legs), often we say things without thinking (Drea and the ‘hot lava’), and our off-the-field decision-making lacks sometimes (hair dying incident), but we are your Milwaukee Panthers and have found success against those “perfect” teams and it is those flaws, quirks, mindless talking and acting intertwined with our success that hopefully brings you entertainment for the couple of minutes you take out of your day to read this.

Sept. 26th- League Opener a.k.a. State-Winner

This would be our third-straight year of winning the state of Wisconsin: Beat Madison. Beat Marquette. Beat Green-Bay. We had our league opener Friday, at Englemann, under the lights.

Leading into this game, we were told that Green-Bay’s coach said they wanted to be a hard team to score on. Well, pulling a fifth defender into your backline will probably help you accomplish being hard to score on, then four midfields in front of their five backs, and one lone forward up top.

On top of having nine players behind the ball to defend (and then the keeper), they held their defensive pressure line about fifteen yards into their half, I don’t know if this was intentional, but our outside backs could attack into their half about 15 yards before anyone would come to pressure, though at this point then they have all nine of their players defending in a space only about 45 yards deep, throw our six or seven attackers into that space too and it gets a little congested.

A little congestion has never stopped us. We found moments of combination between the forwards and midfield that led to some good chances. One combination leading to my favorite chance of the half, Canada (Keara Thompson) hit a great left-footed shot from the top of the 18 box that hit the inside left post (left as facing the goal) and we narrowly missed getting to the rebound. (Side note: for all you Canadians, we have added a nice addition to our flag pole)

With their contentedness to just sit in and defend, hoping to get a clear over our backline so their lone forward can run like a freight train. For those at the game I am sure would agree with that description, their forward was big, physical and had a non-stop motor. This tactic lead to one chance within the total 90 minutes of the game and that was in the first half. They were able to play a ball over our back line into our defending left corner. At this point, their charging forward was in a foot race with Kane to see who could get to the ball (or what soon became a collision for the ball) first. Both Kane and their player sliding to the ball, their player got their first, sending the ball across the box to another GB player who five feet out from the goal, undefended, kicked it wide. However, in every collision or action, there is an equal or opposite reaction, and the reaction occurred as a tremendous force, in the form of cleats, upon Erin Kane’s shin. She would be out for the rest of the game, and Leslie Deebach covered the responsibility of the goalie throughout the rest of the game easily.

So we headed into half scoreless, but like I have said numerous times, we execute our halftime adaptations to the game. Three minutes into the half, yes we adapt quickly, we were up. After a miscleared ball by their five-(wo)man back line, Beth Steuer hit a shot, blocked, got her own rebound, and hit a skipping ball past all five defenders and under their diving keeper, 1-0.

The second goal came about 10 minutes later, another great build up that I will attempt to explain. Kayla played a long ball up the left line into Kreuser (receiving it around the midline), laid it back to me, I played a through ball to Talbert, who attacked towards the corner of the 18 box, played into Hagen at the top of the 18 box, who played a leading ball on the ground behind their defense, into Louise Vraney as she slashed across the box, she hit it one-time left corner, keeper no chance, 2-0. Thanks for coming.

Last thought: You know, there are a lot of things going on in the world, but every game is a nice 90 minutes away whether you’re playing, watching, or even cheering against us. Every game is exciting and fun for us as players, hopefully it brings as much enjoyment for everyone else. Maybe next year, those great goals we scored this year don’t mean as much, and the year after possibly forgotten, but right now in this moment they keep us awake at night hoping to get another in the next game. Maybe they keep some of you awake too. The idea of being recognized, respected and nationally ranked is the first thing we think about Tuesday morning when they are posted. Yeah, they are just rankings, and yeah soccer is just a game, but as players it’s what consumes our time, our days, our lives and we get to show you the work and energy we spend in those 90 minutes, those 90 minutes away from everything else.

Heading to Minnesota

Thursday the 18th - Heading to Minnesota

We left Milwaukee on Thursday around 10:30 am and headed for Minnesota. After New Mexico last weekend, we were disappointed with our results, and this weekend in Minnesota will be a great opportunity to get back into the national rankings. 

The bus ride went quickly--five hours straight through. Most people slept or tried to get their homework done. Before we knew it, we were at our hotel, checked in and headed back to training. 

Minnesota’s field is off campus, so it doesn’t have that feel that Englemann does, but is good quality and we got a good training in. We, of course, ended with the finishing game I talked about last weekend. The keepers said we could only make five goals this time. After three rounds, the keepers will be getting smoothies and we will be playing this game again.

Friday the 19th- Boston Terriers

We got to sleep in, which nobody ever complains about. A light jog and stretch and then some time off 'til lunch. To kill the time 'til lunch we decided to dye my hair…

Now, if you know what I look like, I normally have really blond hair. However during preseason we decided to dye it black. We decided that we wanted the blond hair back and got some hair dye! Thinking this would be nice and easy... how naive we were…

After being told it would work out (I won’t name name’s) we put the dye in and waited. In the end I have bleach blond roots and dark tips, with patches of areas turned blond. Well maybe that’s not to bad right? WRONG! 

Then for some reason, I entrusted Erin Kane with a pair of athletic training scissors used to cut tape. For not being experienced, she did an alright job. We really just needed a pair of clippers, but in the end she shortened the sides and cut the back of my Mohawk off (the team calls it my 'rat tail' and most were happy to see it gone). 

Finally we headed to the game field, my tips brown, roots blond and chunks of the brown cut off so the blond was showing through... my teammates told me it didn’t look as bad as I thought. Well, after the game, JoJo Seversen (class of '06) came up and said, “It looks like you have bald spots from the stands wherever the blond shows through.” 

Anyways, the moral of this memoir, don’t dye dark hair blond. Now to the game!

We played Boston U last year in Madison, hit the post a couple times and ended up loosing 0-1. They have been receiving votes for the top 25 and it would be to redeem from last year. 

The second half started, we won air balls, and we kept possession. With five in midfield we had more options for little combinations, and we worked through them and found Hagen on a breakaway to the goal. Her legs get taken out and Sperl steps up for the p.k. I am assuming they watched film from the Ohio State game, because the goalie shifted to her right, about three steps before Sperl had hit the ball. Still it was a well hit ball and the goalie couldn’t catch it and tipped it out for a corner. Why take the easy p.k. when we can just have Hagen jump above everyone else and score a sweet corner. 1-0. 

We continued to control the pace of the game and we did not allow any great chances. Kane made some easy saves but our back line contained them well (back line lead by two freshman center backs, Kenzie back from injury and Mary.)

Eventually, to seal the deal, Beth Steuer attacked the right corner, beating two girls, sent a cross into me, I came across the box and right-footed volleyed it past the keeper. Easily one of the better goals I have scored. 

The game ended 2-0. Feeling good, we started thinking about Brown, who that night lost to Minnesota 2-0. 

Saturday the 20th- Day of Rest

Saturdays are always nice on road trips, especially ones closer to home because many parents can make the weekend trip. We never get to go home during season, or rarely if we do, and it’s nice to get some family time. My parents and me toured the city and went to a 50’s theatre. Other family’s toured the campus, downtown, and lots went to the Mall of America. We all then met up together to have a team dinner. 

We went to the old spaghetti factory. There was a dinner party next to us of a bunch of girls, looking about 13-16 at the oldest. Erin Kreuser, however, was going around saying “oh look! A Bridal party!” Ha ha... she got picked on for a while as they sang Happy Birthday to the 15 year old. Dinner is always worth a lot of laughs, even when it’s the keepers rubbing in our faces the fact that they got Oreo shakes for winning the finishing game yet again.

Sunday the 21st- Brown Bears

Brown Bears is really their name if you think I am kidding. Anyways, the game was at 10:30 am and we packed and checked out of our hotel beforehand. We took the field wearing stripes and began controlling the play early on. Though, we were slow to make a decision on the backline and gave up a corner. The ball was sent in deep far post, bobbled around and kicked in, 0-1. 

We were quick to respond with our own corner, Sperl sent the ball in near post and Sarah Teegarden finished near post. Although Hagen is taller and could probably beat me up, I have to stick to last year's feelings; Teegarden is my hero. We continued to control the game.

They were really tired. They also got lucky in spots and were saved by some great saves by their keeper. Once again that’s why soccer is a cruel sport, the better team doesn’t always win, and aren’t better until they get the result. 

So, we boarded the bus, happy with our effort and work rate, which was phenomenal throughout the 125 minutes, and headed back to Milwaukee, ready to take on Northwestern on Wednesday.

Actually we didn’t board the bus quite yet… team showers!... which is actually one of the funniest things you that most people don't know behind the scenes.

See, there are the people that are comfortable with it, those that are so comfortable they make fun of the uncomfortable, those who are kind of comfortable but wear their undergarments, and those who just avoid the shower and apply extra deodorant. Now I won’t call people out, but we have some of each of those category. Anyways, back on the bus with some clean players and some not so clean, we watched movies, slept, ate and did homework.

Actually, now thinking about it, Mr. and Mrs. Ragalie: I helped your daughter with some math homework on the bus and I normally charge $20 an hour. I can probably cut you a deal… but we will need to talk later. :) (Kidding!)

See everyone Wednesday I hope!

Last thought: My patchy hair must be good luck because me, Hagen, Mary and Teegarden made all tournament team. 

Editor's Note: Kate was named the tournament's Offensive MVP and then the Horizon League Player of the Week this week.

Road Trip to New Mexico

Note: This entry will be much longer, covering a lot of outside of game activities. - KM

Travel Day: Sept. 11th

Last weekend was our first real road trip—across town to Marquette doesn’t count so much. We had to be packed and ready to leave Englemann Locker room by 6:30 a.m. Now let me tell you, we are not the most cheery team that early in the morning. So, it was quiet ride to the airport.

Our flight took off and we were assigned seats alphabetically, which places me next to our head coach Mike. Now a little background on Mike: He is a health fanatic, no meat, no sugar, no fried food, no carbonated food, nothing artificial—organic. Naturally, it affects what we can eat, so no fried food, no soda, no candy. So the flight attendant comes over the loud speaker, “Our complimentary drink service will be coming around shortly.” For the past three years on flights, Mike and I have been seat buddies, and I have been ordering tomato juice because of it. Now personally, there is nothing more refreshing then a little soda while you’re cramped in seats that one size fits all. So for the next 10 minutes I stressed about if I should get my Canada Dry Ginger Ale I had been looking forward to, our get the same old tomato juice out of fear from my seatmate.

I chose to stand my ground, all the other players were getting soda, why can’t I!

“Ginger Ale please”

“Ok,” the flight attendant responded as Mike turned his head my way, nodding up and down, “Good choice, my mom use to always give me that.”

…really Mike? I suffered through three years of tomato juice!

Anyways, we landed in New Mexico in the afternoon some time and headed to our hotel, which will remain anonymous because… well, I have been told by my editor to keep his editing to a minimum. We unpacked a little, tried to watch TV… a single channel that said, “Congratulations you have a dish 2000!” and quickly left the room to eat lunch and then head to practice.

Practice went well, some light possession and some hard-finishing. We played a crossing and finishing game, where it was field players vs. keepers. Twenty balls get served one at a time, and we (field players) have to try to finish. The rowdiness of it comes from the keepers picking what number we can make out of the 20. Let’s just say the keepers came up lucky… twice… and there will be rematches in the future. Drea, however, was ready to stay out there till dark until we won.

Game Day: Friday the 12th

We got to sleep in a little ‘til 9:30, grabbed breakfast which was easily the best part of our hotel, watched tv… some time over night we got about nine more channels. Got ready for a very light training and headed to their practice field again. We did a light jog and stretch and then played soccer tennis, one of my favorite games. Basically two equal grids attached by a center line, no serving sides or anything, one bounce per side, three touch per side, rally scoring, lines are in, very similar to tennis but with our feet and a soccer ball. All the lines are in, except for the middle line, and we play this game very often. Now Drea, age 23, decided to help us out. If we didn’t get that the middle line was considered a dead ball, she described it as, “The middle line is like lava! Your ball touches it and it disintegrated!” She was teased for a couple days after.

Anyways, practiced ended we head back to our hotel, which we found out was only going to be our hotel till 1 pm, when we get to switch to the Hampton Inn! From there it was time to head out for our game.

We were playing University of New Mexico, who have been averaging over 1000 fans per game, and had their men’s team playing after us who, like us, are ranked in the top 25. The game started fast, the only two goals of the game came in the first 10 minutes. They scored first… I am not sure what is in the water, but their center backs were huge…like a least three times the size of our Canadian, or a small child. Not only were these two big, but could smack a ball farther then most I know, and that was their game plan. I don’t think their midfield received a single pass from their backline, it was backline straight to their forward, #3, who I will give credit, was very skilled technically. So back to the first goal, a large defensive back for them smacked a ball into our defensive third, to around the corner of our right 18 yard box, from Kane’s perspective. As the ball was hit, both #3 and Kane ran towards the ball, #3 stuck her leg out, moments before Kane, hit it up and over Kane’s head, bounce once, bounce twice, and into the goal. 0-1.

We came back quick. Lou and Hagen both were threatening their back line which held high and eventually I received the ball facing forward 35 yards out. Hagen began a run from the inside of their left back across the line, I split their right back and right center back, where Hagen broke behind their line onto the ball, past the goalie and goal. 1-1.

Another player on their team that I will give credit to, was their keeper. In the rest of the first half, I hit a corner to Hagen, who with her head, smacked the ball to the corner and the keeper some how tipped it out. The Canadian, Keara, hit a line drive off the crossbar, Hagan again with her head to the corner of the goal and the keeper got another tip on it. Sperl hit a corner in and it bounced around until Teegarden received it, almost posted up on the keeper, and flicked it to her right, the keeper of course somehow grabbed it!

The second half was no different. Teegs had a shot from the top of the box, we had some good serves in, Laurel played me a great ball across the box, exactly like the Samford game, but I missed. Overall, we were pounding them and couldn’t finish and they got to tie with us.

Walking away from the game, Mike was mad, but was happy with our work rate and effort, he was mad at the third jersey (black and white stripes…) on the field, which I am not allowed to express my anger towards. Can only say as supporters of our team, you would not have been happy with them either.

Day of rest: Saturday the 13th

We woke up in our new hotel, a little bummed but it was our day to spend in the city and with the parents who could make the trip down to support us. We stuck in fairly large groups but ventured in different directions as well. I stuck with Leslie, Kayla, Drea, Mary, Laurel, and Keara, also my parents, Kayla’s, and Keara’s. We went to the world’s longest free-standing tram. I never knew there was even a tram in New Mexico, and it’s the worlds longest. A tram is like a train compartment, attached to metal wires that “fly” you up a mountain. New Mexico is already above sea level by a lot, and we took the tram up to 10,000 and some feet. It was actually really fun and I have plenty of pictures to prove it.

A couple other families went to the trams, some drove up the mountain. Others went to old town, a shopping area, others relaxed and did homework.

In the end we all met up to head to dinner as a team. Now, I don’t know how many of you know what the camping game is… but we play this at dinner. I also like to believe that it’s not a real game and Roadhouse just made it up… So basically, one person is in charge, and says, “I am going camping and I am going to bring, elephants and bubblegum.” And everyone else around the table has to figure out what rules these two words follow and then ask if they can come, “Can I bring Snails and lollipops?!”… “NO!” “…earmuffs and apples?” “Yes” “elbows and cherries.” “Yes” Here the themes are first word starts with an “E” and second word has a double letter. Now the figuring out part is fun, but what is the most fun about this game is the people’s reactions. Roadhouse will just sit there silently for a while and then just knows it. And Deebach will be the last one and mad she can’t get it, but wants to play again, and McGrath hates playing the game. In the end it is entertaining and the food is there before we know it.

Game Day 2: Sunday the 14th

The second game was a lot different then the first. 10 a.m. was kick off. No national anthem, no ball girls, no fans (outside of our amazing pack of about 16 parents). It was also very windy which caused us to over hit the ball and have a lot of unforced turnovers. That was a big part of the first half, we over hit balls and beat ourselves in the first half, allowing them to go up 0-1. There were moments we connected passes well at times, but couldn’t connect on that final ball.

We went into the second half talking about what we needed to fix. We came out and we did everything we talked about, we threatened their back line, kept the ball and had a great build up to a great goal.

Overall the weekend didn’t go as we planned, we will probably drop from the top 25, still remain in the top five in the region, but will need to prove ourselves next weekend.

We boarded our plan back to Milwaukee, a little sad but excited for Minnesota next weekend. Also we all learned that everyone forgets things (meaning the players shouldn’t have to run fitness when we loose a ball). Mike left his computer at security, David left his shoes in the rental car, and Brittany left her phone on the plane. Chris didn’t lose anything… yet.

Week 3 (Sept. 9, 2008)

Glory Glory Milwaukee…

There is one team that I do not like… Marquette. So there is no better feeling then beating them…especially on their home field. And, that is exactly what we would do.

We moved to 4-0 for the season.

It was a back and forth game, each team having their chances and in the end we came out on top. Sarah Hagen came up with yet another goal, off a corner from Nicole Sperl, to give us the 1-0 win. She just before was put in on a breakaway from a great through ball by the Canadian, Keara Thompson. And that earned us the corner.

I don’t have much more to say besides it was back and forth and intense. When I say back and forth I mean possession wise, not that they had many close chances. Every time they were near our goal it was an easy save for Kane or we were able to force them into an off-target shot. Kane was forced once to make a superman save.

Our fans were amazing, and were just as loud as their home field “birdcage”. If it wasn’t for them it could have been a different game, so thank you to all that were there!

We beat Madison, now Marquette, last to beat is Green Bay to win the state… for the third year in a row!

Western Michigan

Western Michigan isn’t necessarily a big name team like Ohio State or Marquette, but still a team that could come out and give us a game. Now for those who have seen us play the past four games, have seen us play good attractive soccer, with the occasional situation that needed work. However, this game was a little different, we came out a little lethargic and caused some unforced turnovers. They came out with a lot of energy and we didn’t react the smartest and gave up some turnovers. Nothing that proved too damaging, but prevented us from scoring and keeping possession like we would normally like to do.

Luckily however, I started the scoring off about 18 minutes in. Now I would like to say I was on the left flank, looked up and saw their keeper out of position so I hit a nicely flighted ball and chipped her with the ball hitting side netting on the far post… BUT, the truth however, when I looked up I really saw Hagen cutting to the back side and was looking to play the ball to her head. I then over hit it and ended up with a goal! But if anyone asks, it was on purpose!

We played out the rest of the first half, leaning more towards the ugly side of play and headed into the locker room with some things to fix.

We came out in the second half improved, we got a corner, Beth Steuer played short to Nicole Sperl and she crushed the ball on goal, then got her own rebound and crushed the ball a second time, 2-0.

They lost a player a little while later to two quick yellow cards, so we had a player up and we began to knock on the door some more, we got another corner. I played it in and Hagen finished…surprise, surprise Hagen scores again! That is one of the most exciting things to me, a consistent scorer, that has been a major factor to our success this year.

Finally, our scoring ended with Beth Steuer smacking a sweet shot from the top of the eighteen, over the keepers head and into the goal. It was one of my favorite goals on the year—easily.

Wisnewski Battle

Our final game of the weekend, Illinois State, home to Senior Drea Wisniewski’s little sister Ammanda (not a typo). Now in the past six days, we started classes, attended them, beat Marquette (emotionally and physically exhausting), beat Western Michigan and now must get “up” for yet another game. We walked away with the win, but it was a struggle, 1-0.

We started off quick, thinking it was going to be a high-scoring game. Kayla DeJardin served the ball in, I flicked it onto Hagen, who took a touch and then into the back of the goal 1-0 four minutes in. We had other chances, never finishing them. Mentally we were worn out and it showed on the field. The turnovers were high, and we called on our bench a lot, many new faces got playing time in this game and against Western Michigan.

Every team will have the games were mentally they just don’t seem to be there, but the important thing is we walked away with the result. We just need to turn around have a good week of practice and bring the true style of our play to New Mexico next weekend. I know some families are traveling but many of you can’t be with us there so I will be sure to write an action-packed entry next week. Until then, Go Panthers!

Week 2 (Sept. 2, 2008)

Wednesday -Milwaukee Cup Day 1 vs Ohio State

Every year we participate in the Milwaukee Cup. It is a round play tournament we co-host with Marquette. Two teams come to town and play both us and Marquette, with the team with the best record being named the champion.

The first game for us was Ohio State. We had just come off a good win against UW and beating another Big Ten team would be nice. As of now we were ranked 31st and a win here would certainly help us move up.

We came out strong in the first 10 minutes, maintaining possession in their half. However, they proved to be dangerous and did threaten our back line as time went on. The game ended 4-3 in one of the more exciting games that has taken place on Englemann field.

Keara Thompson not only played the game-winning through ball to Sarah Hagen to get a penalty kick drawn, but she also scored a goal and was involved in the build up to another goal scored by Laurel Ragalie. Nicole Sperl was the only non-freshman to score--performing under pressure and finishing a PK in the last minutes of the game to give us the win.

To put the goals in order (in the past we would only score one goal and would be a lot easier for me to keep track!): Ragalie started it off with a goal in the first half, then Keara's goal off a free kick from Sperl, Hagen had our third goal, then finally when it looked like we would head to overtime, there was the PK finished by Sperl.

I don't mean to exclude Ohio State's effort and three goals, but we have been scoring so much it is easy for me to forget about them. They proved to be dangerous and got behind our back line, capitalizing twice with shots beating, who in my opinion is, the best keeper in the Midwest--Erin Kane. The rounded off their attempt to catch up with our freshmen scorers with a free kick just outside the penalty box and to the right (keeper perspective). We had a wall of five, it was direct kick, and hit right over our heads and dropped an inch or so from the near post. A nicely hit shot--3-3.

I got to say if I was Ohio State I would have been very excited at this point, patting each other on the back, proud that they didn't give up. Ha! Twenty seconds later their goal keeper was on the line as the ref blew her whistle for Sperl to take a PK... 4-3. Glory Milwaukee.

Friday- Milwaukee Cup Day 2 - Samford

Many people don't know much about Samford, except that they have been to the NCAA Tournament the last two years, which is a big deal. Also winning the Milwaukee Cup another year in a row is a big deal to us as well. So taking Samford lightly was not the case.

We came out and before the clock could say 1:00, Hagen scored at 59 seconds, great hustle and pressure by Erin Kreuser and another finish by Freshman Hagen. The two weren't done yet... After a close call, Samford was rewarded a P.K. soon after Hagen's first goal to tie 1-1. Like I said however, Erin and Hagen weren't done and Kreuser attacked the end line and layered the ball back for Hagen to add another goal 2-1 at halftime.

Samford, either tired or feeling defeated, came out on their heals at first and we dominated much of the second half. Kreuser, my player of the match, again got behind their defense to the end line sent a cross in, came right to me without a defender near by--3-1.

Editor's Note: For some reason Kate doesn't go into nearly as much detail on her own goals as everyone else's. When Kreuser sent the ball to Kate, she stopped the ball and hit a rocket upper 90 to beat a 6-foot-3 goalkeeper. It was a nice goal.

We pounded them more as the second half went on, unfortunately not adding to our lead, but instead motivating them perhaps. They proved to have a little more in the tank, building on a poor back pass on our part, forcing a turnover. Their player then beat a center back on the dribble and knocked the ball into the back of our net--3-2.

At this point, Sammy Vovos a freshman from my hometown got her first regular season minutes. Almost as fast as Erin Kresuer, she pressured the keeper and apparently scared the poor girl because the ball rolled under her foot from a back pass and into our goal.

Thank you for letting the ball go in because that gave us the Milwaukee Cup! Marquette also won both games, so it went to goal difference and we won out with that extra goal from Samford.

Two years in a row, Milwaukee Cup winners. Next game and biggest rival, Marquette, Wednesday at their place!