UConn Women's Soccer defeated by Notre Dame in Big East Tournament

-------------------------- UConn offense sprouted at the end of the second period, but the Huskies were unable to score - they did force Notre Dame into their second overtime game of the season. Photo courtesy of UConn Athletic Communications.

In the first overtime period, after an initial save on a Michelle Weissenhofer shot. Melissa Henderson slammed the ball into the goal from point blank and ended UConn’s chances in the post season for the first time in 27 years.

After making it to the Championship game of the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time since 2004, the University of Connecticut women’s soccer team fell in overtime today to the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame, 1-0.

The Huskies played 90 minutes of scoreless soccer against Notre Dame, forcing them to their second overtime of the 2008 season, but were unable to hold off the Fighting Irish and fell 1-0 during the first overtime period.

Both teams traded offensive attacks early in the game.

UConn sophomore Erin Clark took the first shot of the game for the Huskies during the sixth minute of play. In the seventh, she tried once again to get the ball past Notre Dame goalie Kelsey Lysander, but the Fighting Irish were able to squelch the attack.

During the eighth minute, it looked as though the Irish would score but after a diving stop by senior Stephanie Labbe - as well as some defensive saves by sophomore Courtney Wilkinson-Maitland - allowed UConn to clear the ball and keep the game knotted at zero.

The play was back-and-forth for the Huskies and the Fighting Irish for the rest of the first half.

UConn controlled the ball on the Notre Dame side of the field for much of the end of the first half ,but Notre Dame still led at the half, sending 13 shots at the UConn goal. The Huskies had seven.

Notre Dame kept coming during the second half, taking four more shots in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

It looked as though Junior Annie Yi gave the Huskies the lead - and would have scored her seventh goal of the season - on a shot that just curled and looked as though it was going into the top left corner of the goal, but Lysander got her hands in the way and stopped Yi’s shot.

Clark also looked to give UConn the lead in the 69th minute of play on a laser rocket shot. The ball flew just inches high of the goal in one of the Huskies best and most open shots of the game.

UConn offense sprouted at the end of the second period, when they took three corners in the space of a minute, but the Huskies were unable to score. They did force Notre Dame to their second overtime game of the season.

In the first overtime period, after an initial save on a Michelle Weissenhofer shot. Melissa Henderson slammed the ball into the goal from point blank and ended UConn’s chances in the post season for the first time in 27 years.

Posted Nov. 9, 2009