RELEASED:  Sunday, November 11, 2007

UW-Stevens Point Advances To NCAA Women’s Soccer Sectionals

Chicago, Ill.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point advanced to the sectional round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament with a thrilling 0-0 double overtime victory over the University of Chicago (Ill.) on Nov. 11.

In the seventh round of penalty kicks Jackie Spees beat the goalkeeper to help the Pointers defeat the Maroons 5-4 in penalty kicks.

The Pointers move on to face defending national champion Wheaton College (Ill.) in the sectional semifinal. The match will either take place Nov. 16 or Nov. 17 at a site to be determined.

It was the first time ever that the Pointers had gone into penalty kicks.

The first 110 minutes of action was a defensive battle. Amanda Prawat had a chance early in the contest, but had a shot deflect off the post. The Maroons also had many chances in regulation and overtime, but Pointers’ goalkeeper Meredith DeCaluwe played fantastic in net, including a diving stop in the second overtime to save the season for Stevens Point.

So after 110 minutes the game had to be decided by penalty kicks. Chicago was the first to shoot. Both teams converted on the first round of penalty kicks as Kaylee Weise scored for the Pointers. The Maroons had the advantage after the second round as the Pointers were unsuccessful. DeCaluwe stepped up in the third round stopping Chicago’s attempt and Andrea Peiffer tied the contest back up. The tally was 3-3 after the fourth round of penalty kicks as Prawat delivered for the Pointers. It stayed tied after the fifth round as Mary Jean Cornelius kept the Pointers alive.

After five rounds of penalty kicks, the match would be decided by a round-by-round basis. DeCaluwe stopped Chicago’s attempt in the sixth round so that meant that Stevens Point had a chance to win. However, the Pointers were stopped and the match continued. DeCaluwe then came up big again in the seventh round, stopping the Maroons attempt so the Pointers had another chance to win. Stevens Point prevailed this time around as Spees put one in the back of the net as the Pointers season continues with a 5-4 victory in penalty kicks.

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