When Elise Weber's goal tied No. 2 Penn State with just over 10 minutes remaining, it looked like the fortunes might finally be about to turn for the Wisconsin women's soccer team. In the end, however, the goal only set the stage for another heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss Sunday afternoon, the second of the weekend for the hard-luck Badgers.
\In all my years of coaching, I've never seen this many overtime games and tough, tough, endings for this team,"" said head coach Dean Duerst, whose team also dropped a 1-0 double overtime decision to Minnesota on Friday night.
""I'm very proud of the way we played today,"" he said. ""They're tough kids. They faced some real adversity today. It's a real challenge for them, but I think they're the kind of kids that will be able to step up and rebound.""
Wisconsin (0-3-1 Big Ten, 5-5-2 overall) found itself down 1-0 in the first half after Penn State was awarded a penalty kick for a questionable foul call in the box. Senior Tiffany Weimer converted the kick for the Nittany Lions.
""That was a tough call,"" said Duerst. ""I didn't think it was a justified penalty. It's always tough to spot Penn State a goal.""
The goal, Weimer's 18th of the season, pushed her career total to 77, just five shy of the Big Ten record. Weimer has scored in all 12 of Penn State's contests this year, leaving her just three games shy of Brandi Chastain's record for consecutive games with a goal. After the game, Weimer down-played her individual success.
""I don't really think about it that much,"" the national player of the year candidate said. ""My main goal is for this team to win, and that stuff [individual records] comes along with the winning.""
Aside from the penalty kick, however, Weimer was virtually shut down by the Badger defense, and in particular, senior midfielder Marisa Brown.
""Marisa Brown marked her all game long,"" said Wisconsin defender Jessica Ring. ""She did a really good job of it, and pretty much took her out of the game.""
""Every time I got the ball, there were like three or four girls on me,"" Weimer said. ""They marked me the entire game and it's difficult to get around that.""
With 10 minutes to play, Wisconsin subbed an extra attacker into the game in an attempt to create more offense. Within seconds, Weber broke free down the middle and beat the Lion's goalkeeper into the top right corner of the net to even the score.
""Elise showed what she's capable of and made a very special play. All of a sudden we had an extra attacker, and I think that kind of confused Penn State a little bit,"" Duerst said.
Penn State sealed the victory in overtime thanks to freshman Sheree Gray's second career goal.
Wisconsin suffered an equally tough loss on Friday night, dropping a Border Battle match-up to Minnesota. After both teams failed to score in regulation, Gopher freshman Kaitlin Wagner headed a shot past Badger goalkeeper Stefani Szczechowski with less than two minutes to play in the second overtime. The shot was Minnesota's first and only shot on goal of the contest.
""We just have to keep doing what we've been doing,"" said Weber. Sooner or later things will start going our way.""
