Nov. 2, 2008

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MILWAUKEE -

Updated BIG EAST Tournament Bracket

MILWAUKEE – Sophomore Ashley Bares scored her fifth game-winning goal of the season to help Marquette blank No. 24/22 Rutgers, 1-0, in BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinal action Sunday afternoon at Valley Fields.

With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 11-6-3 overall, and advance to play No. 1 National Division seed and the top-ranked team in the nation, Notre Dame, at Alumni Field on the campus of Notre Dame on Friday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. CT.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 1 American Division seed West Virginia and No. 3 American Division seed Connecticut will face each other in the first semifinal match at 1:30 p.m. CT. Both matches will be broadcast live on CBS College Sports. 

“Congrats to our team.  We came out very focused, disciplined and determined. Our energy carried us through the entire 90 minutes,” said head coach Markus Roeders. “It was a ‘championship type' battle and we prevailed over an outstanding Rutgers team.  Both teams had chances, played physical and had moments excelling at their game plan, which made for an exciting match. As coaches, we are happy for our seniors who walk off Valley Fields as winners today.  Returning to the BIG EAST 'final four' is an outstanding accomplishment and a reward for our play.  We look forward to traveling back to Notre Dame and facing the top ranked team in the country.”

For the first half, the two created few opportunities as most of the play was at midfield. Both Marquette and Rutgers only had one shot on goal in the first half. Marquette’s best chance came late in the first frame when junior Kelly Wepking sent a cross in from the left corner right to the foot of junior Becky Ryan, but the ball was knocked away by a Rutgers’ defender.

The Golden Eagles got the only score it would need to win the game in the 52nd minute when Bares took the ball up the right side of the field and beat two Rutgers defenders on her way towards the goal. Once Bares was in the box she knocked her low-lying shot past Guthrie for the score.

Marquette didn’t let up and kept pushing for a goal to cushion the lead. It almost got a second goal just about four minutes later when sophomore Julia Victor fed the ball to Bares, and with Guthrie out of the box, Bares chipped the ball just wide of the goalmouth. 

The Golden Eagles had an opportunity to score another goal in the 67th minute. Victor found junior Anna Sawicki on the run. Sawicki got her shot off, but Gutherie got back just in time to poke the ball away from going in the net.

“Our squad came out strong in the beginning of the second half and we dominated for a while. We created opportunities to score more goals. It could've helped settle us down, but Rutgers defense was tough,” said Roeders.

The Scarlet Knights kept up its battle for an equalizer and two quality chances late in the game. With 3:28 to play Gina DeMaio crossed the ball to the left post to the head of Kristen Edmonds, but her header went wide.

With under a minute to play, Rheanne Sleiman crossed into the box for Alicia Hall who headed it to Nina Montero directly in front of the goal, but freshman keeper Kulla grabbed the ball to preserve the victory.

For the game, Marquette held a slight shots advantage, 10-8, with five of those attempts being on goal. Bares led the charge with three shots, while sophomores Rosie Malone-Povolny and Victor each tallied two apiece.

Kulla tallied two saves in all 90 minutes in net, while Scarlet Knight keeper Erin Guthrie recorded four stops saves for the game.

Game Notes
• Marquette advances to the BIG EAST Semifinals for the third time in four years.

• Marquette is 3-3 all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament, 3-1 in BIG EAST Quarterfinal action, and 3-0 when those quarterfinal matches are played at Valley Fields.

• All four of MU’s BIG EAST Quarterfinal matches have been decided by one goal.
2005: Marquette 2, Louisville 1
2006: Marquette 1, Villanova 0
2007: Louisville 1, Marquette 0
2008: Marquette 1, Rutgers 0

• Marquette is 0-2 all-time in the BIG EAST Semifinals. Marquette fell to Notre Dame, 3-0, in 2005, and 2-0 in 2006.

2008 BIG EAST Championship
Nov. 7 – Semifinals, live on CBS College Sports
Alumni Field – University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.
Connecticut vs. West Virginia  (2:30 p.m. ET)
Marquette vs. Notre Dame (5:00 p.m. ET)
 
Nov. 9 – Title Game, live on CBS College Sports and www.bigeast.tv as well as numerous regional sports networks, including Time Warner Sports 32.
Alumni Field – University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.
 
All times are Eastern and subject to change.