UWM Season Ends with 3-1 Loss to Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame scored two second-half goals to pull away from the Milwaukee women's soccer team, handing the Panthers a 3-1 loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday evening at Alumni Stadium.

Milwaukee's (8-9-1) season came to an end, while the Irish (14-5-2) advance to the second round against the winner of tomorrow's No. 10 Wake Forest/Georgia Southern match.

"Great game by the ladies," UWM head coach Greg Henschel said. "Panthers did Panther Nation proud tonight. To get that 1-0 lead was well-deserved and the ladies played a great match tonight. I'm especially proud of our seniors."

The Panthers struck first on a Helen Steinhauser penalty kick goal in the 28th minute. The PK was set up after the Panthers forced a turnover in the midfield, allowing Kelsey Holbert and Kelly Lewers forward on a 2v2 chance. Holbert played a tremendous through ball into the box that got Lewers past her defender, who then pushed her down from behind for the foul.

Notre Dame seized control of possession from that point and got its equalizer just over a minute before halftime. The Irish got a corner to the far post where Katie Naughton was to head the ball into the goal.

Milwaukee held its own out of the gates, using a conservative offense and pestering defense to keep the game square. The Panthers then capitalized on their only threat of the half. UND held a 5-1 shot advantage and 4-0 edge in corner kicks.

In the second half, Notre Dame was once again on the attack for the first half of the period. In that time, it took the lead in the 53rd minute when Lauren Bohaboy took a pass into the box, settled and found the back of the net at the far post.

The Irish continued to pepper the Panther goal with shots, but the Milwaukee defense kept dangerous chances at bay. The game eventually became entrenched in the midfield, until UWM pushed forward in the latter part of the frame.

Strong pressure and a rising back line led to some counter-attack shots by the home team, but the Panthers were not relenting and continued to push forward. Unfortunately for them, they could not generate shots during this period. In the final minute, UND nabbed a third goal on a chip shot from Crystal Thomas.

Milwaukee immediately followed with its best opportunity from the run of play, as Krissy Dorre launched a shot from the top of the box that the Irish keeper had to make a nice save on. Vienna Behnke crashed the box for the rebound, but it was too high and bounced past her.

Shots finished at 18-3 in favor of Notre Dame. Jamie Forbes made six saves on the night, while Elyse Hight stopped one shot for the Irish.

(Release courtesy of UWMPanthers.com)