Wildcats Fall From First after Overtime Loss

Two evenly-matched teams came to the game.  They came to the game tied for first place.  They remained tied after regulation time had ended. They played into the second overtime time period to decide it. After it was finally over Wednesday evening, the Lake Country Lutheran/University Lake School girls soccer team had defeated University School 2-1 and was still in first place in the Midwest Classic Conference North.

94 minutes into the game, Hannah Rezutek dribbled around several USM defenders and fired a low shot that eluded USM’s goalkeeper Caity Prewitt to give the victory and first place in the conference to the Lightning. Until that moment, however, the final decision was very much in doubt. Either team could have won the important game.

In the early minutes of the game the Lightning were very much in control.  As a result, they soon scored the game’s first goal.  At 5:53, Lake Country Lutheran’s forward Jamie Schnuck gained control of the ball and ran into open space in the USM penalty box.  Schnuck rifled a low shot inside the left post to give her team a 1-0 lead.

The Lightning outshot USM 8-2 in the first half, but after the early goal, Prewitt and her fellow defenders took a deep breath and said, “No more.” For the next 88:17 of the game, the Wildcats did not concede another goal.  The USM midfielders and defensive players, Ellie Wigdale, Emily Hendrickson, Margot Peterson, Catherine Jacobus, Merrill Read, Sally James, Maggie Schroeder, Kate Nosbusch, and Julia Hanson marked the Lightning steadfastly, fought for every loose ball persistently, and cleared the ball from danger diligently.  Prewitt made several key saves.  In the 49^th minutes she leaped to knock away a shot headed for the upper right corner of the goal.  Late in the game, she raced out and dove to take away a shot that might have beat her. 

At halftime, USM coach Patrick Flanagan re-emphasized the style of play that would work to USM’s advantage.  The Wildcats listened and responded.  They controlled the ball, they made short passes to space, and with relentless pressure that kept the ball in the Lake Country Lutheran end, they wore the Lightning down. 

Eventually the strategy paid off. The Wildcats tied the game at 57:29.  Off a throw in by Erika Hurth deep in Lightning territory, Jenna Seter took the ball and maneuvered around a defender as she headed toward the net.  Seter centered the ball to Amber Baker in the middle of the penalty area. Baker patiently moved to the side, took a step in, and blasted a shot past Lake Country Lutheran’s goalie, Kelly Swofford.

The game stayed tied, and the action stayed fierce as the two teams fought for an advantage through the remaining minutes of regulation, ten minutes of the first overtime, and into the second overtime.  The Wildcats had a great chance to win it in the first overtime, but a shot off a corner kick just went wide.  A few minutes later the Lightning had their chance, and they made good on it.

Each team took 10 shots.  Prewitt made 8 saves and Swofford made 6 saves in the close game.

Lake Country Lutheran is now 14-1, with a 9-1 mark atop the conference.  USM’s record is now 10-5 and 8-2 in the conference.  The Wildcats play another important conference game on Monday, May 21^st when they take on Brookfield Academy at 7:00 p.m. at USM.