Nov. 12, 2005

MILWAUKEE - Katie Kelly's first half goal proved to be the eventual gamewinner, as the fourth seeded - and No. 12 ranked - Golden Eagles advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 1-0 victory over #24 Wisconsin tonight in Milwaukee.

With the win - the first in the NCAA Tournament play since the 2000 season - Marquette (18-3-1) advances to face Wis.-Milwaukee on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Valley Fields.

Kelly's goal, off a free kick in the 37th minute, was set up after Lindsay Michuda was fouled about 40 yards from the UW goal. The freshman defender put the ensuing ball on goal and Badger goalkeeper Lynn Murray let it slip pass the goal line.

"The play was designed to be put on goal," said Kelly, who tallied her third goal of the season. "I have been working with (assistant coach) Dano (Holcomb) all week long on this particular play."

In addition to her offense, Kelly was a key component of the Golden Eagles' tough defense throughout the match. Wisconsin was held without a shot through the first half, before registering its first shot-on-goal with about 20:00 to play in regulation.

"I showed our team the film from our last Notre Dame match and told them I thought that we had become a better defensive team because of it," said head coach Markus Roeders. "You have to when you play a team of that caliber. And tonight, with holding a very good Wisconsin team without a shot for as long as we did, I think it showed."

Laura Boyer was again solid in goal for MU, stopping both shots she faced, tallying her 10th shutout of the 2005 season.

"Our defense tonight - with Michelle Pitzl, Heather Goranson, Sarah Uyenishi, and Laura Boyer - was terrific. Pitzl is one of our toughest defenders in open space, and has the ability to win balls on the ground and in the air. And the rest of our defense - Katie Kelly, Ashley Baird, Courtney Sinsky and Alli McBride - they did what they had to do."

"It was a physical, emotional night - it always is when we face Wisconsin. Over the years, we've traded wins and losses with them in some really meaningful matches," Roeders stated. "But we've had too much fun this season, we didn't want the season to end. And we're going to keep playing in another tough match against another local team."

It will mark the second time this season that the Golden Eagles and Panthers will meet on the pitch. Earlier this year, on Sept. 7, both teams played to a scoreless, double-overtime tie, at UWM.