Oct. 18, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- The Penn State women's soccer team was denied its fifth-straight win as Wisconsin came back from a two-goal deficit for a 3-3 tie on Sunday afternoon at the McClimon Soccer Complex. Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.) had a goal and added an assist, while Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.) and Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, Conn.) also tallied goals.
In a bruising match that saw 20 fouls called, Penn State (8-5-2, 4-1-1) held a 3-1 lead with 15 minutes to play after Nairn's strike off a Schoepfer corner kick. With the game seemingly in PSU's control, Wisconsin (7-5-4, 3-1-3) was gritty, earning a penalty kick just two minutes later, converting it to cut the Nittany Lion lead in half at 3-2.
Seven minutes later, Laurie Nosbusch headed in a Monica Lam-Feist early ball to knot things up at three apiece just 8:54 from full time. Neither team could find a game-winner in regulation or overtime, leading both teams with a draw.
In the first half, Penn State got on the board first when Toney broke away on a Nairn through ball and slotted it into the back of the net just a little over 26 minutes into the match.
Wisconsin quickly retaliated as Paige Adams scored five minutes later, notching the game-tying marker in the 32nd minute. The Nittany Lions responded 10 minutes later when Schoepfer took a throw in and knocked it home from distance for a 2-1 halftime lead.
Through a lackluster portion of the second half, neither team could get rolling offensively. It wasn't until Penn State earned a series of corner kicks where Nairn nearly scored on the first one and capitalized on the second for a 3-1 lead just 18 minutes from the final horn. From there Wisconsin came back to knot things up.
The tie was the fourth in the all-time series for the two teams, which Penn State leads 15-1-4. The last draw in the series came in a 0-0 effort at McClimon Soccer Complex in 2003.
The Nittany Lions out-shot the Badgers, 13-12, for the game, but UW's Michele Dalton made a game-high seven saves in net. Both teams were even on corners (5-5), while Wisconsin picked up 15 fouls to Penn State's 11. Schoepfer picked up the lone booking of the match, a 15th-minute yellow card.
Penn State will return home for an important Big Ten matchup with Illinois at Jeffrey Field. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. Fans are encouraged to wear white for the White House promotion and sit in the East Stands across from the team benches.
--NITTANY LIONS--