Denison Advances to NCAA Sectionals in PKs

For the second consecutive season the Denison Big Red women's soccer team has advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA Division III Tournament following a 3-2 shootout victory over Wittenberg in Sunday evening.

After playing the regulation 90 minutes and two, 10 minute overtime periods to a scoreless tie, the match entered a shootout to determine who advanced to the sectional next weekend and things sure looked grim at the start for the Big Red.

DU went 0-for-3 to begin the high-pressure penalty kick scenario, however, Wittenberg was limited to just one goal out of their first three attempts, leaving the window open for a Big Red comeback. It would be the source of that Denison comeback that would be the most astounding.

In the all-important fourth and fifth positions head coach Gail Murphy penciled in a pair of rookies who proved that it wasn't just the frigid temperatures at Edwards-Maurer Field that was keeping the blood flowing through their veins icy. First-year Anna Rusch knotted the score at 1-1 when she sent a shot past Tiger goalkeeper Megan O'Rourke breathing life back into the Big Red squad.

Wittenberg's fourth shot taker Valerie Medwid followed with a goal, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Faced with a do-or-die situation freshman defender Katie Eckenhoff calmly blasted a shot into the back of the net, tying the match at 2-2. That dramatic goal would be followed by junior All-American Liz Gillette's second save of the shootout, extending the match to extra shots.

Denison's sixth player up may have seemed like an unlikely choice to those who have not followed Big Red soccer over the years but it made perfect sense to those close to the program. Senior forward Lisa Nowack, who had not logged a minute of action during this second-round contest, stepped up to the most important kick of her career and came through in the clutch, vaulting Denison into a 3-2 lead.

Now it was the Tigers who needed a score to keep the shootout alive. Junior Stephanie Sharpe took the kick for Wittenberg but Gillette made the critical save resulting in an on-field celebration for the Big Red.

Denison controlled possession throughout tonight's contest and had a handful of scoring chances against the stingy Wittenberg defense. Denison attempted 12 shots and put eight on-goal. Senior Anne Young led DU with four shots, three of which resulted in O'Rourke saves. Sarah Ash and Jessie Birdwhistell both took two shots apiece.

The Tigers were right behind with nine shots while placing five on-frame. Amanda Farrell led the way with three shots while Gillette posted five saves and her 10th shutout of the season for Denison. Only two corner kicks were attempted in the match, both by Denison.

DU advances to face unbeaten Calvin College on Friday, Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. Calvin received a first round bye then defeated North Coast Athletic Conference rival, Kenyon, 2-1 on Saturday. Denison's last game versus Calvin resulted in a 4-2 victory early in the 2003 season. In last year's sectional semifinal, DU advanced in PK's 4-3 against Otterbein College, reaching the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in school history. The winner of the DU-Calvin match will advacne to face the winner of the Messiah-Rochester contest at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Denison is one of just 16 teams still remaining in the national championship tournament. This is the second time in 10 tries that a DU team has advanced to this stage. The match, which is ruled a tie in the final standings, moves Denison's record in the NCAA Tournament to 7-9-2 and their 2006 season record to 15-4-2.