GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The Green Bay women's soccer team (3-8-3, 1-2-1) battled Loyola
(4-7-3, 0-1-2) to a 0-0 overtime tie Wednesday night in a Horizon League match
at Santaga Stadium. The Phoenix defense earned its fourth shutout of the 2011
campaign thanks to a seven-save effort from senior goalkeeper Maddie Drusch
(Appleton, Wis.).
"The
tie doesn't hurt us," Phoenix head coach Trevor Warren said. "Loyola is
a team that has historically outplayed us, and we were able to play them
straight up tonight. We defended well and we showed a lot of heart and a lot of
grit. We just needed that last little pass or that last little through ball to
get on the board."
While
the majority of Drusch's seven saves were routine, the senior was forced to
make a couple of difficult plays between the posts, including a game-saving
stop late in the second period. Loyola's Jessie Hubly fired a well-placed shot
toward the top of the net in the 75th minute, but a diving Drusch managed to
flick the ball over the crossbar for the save.
"Maddie
is just that safety net for us back there," Warren said. "She comes up big for
us when she needs to and always shows great leadership."
After
a scoreless 90 minutes, neither squad was able to provide the game-winner in 20
minutes of overtime, with both teams managing just one shot each. The draw
marked the third of the year for both schools.
The
Ramblers edged the Phoenix in shots 8-7, but held a 7-1 advantage in shots on
goal. Green Bay sophomore Renee Therrien (Winnipeg, Manitoba) took a
game-high four shots, while reserves Sammy Gage and Monika Lee led Loyola with
two shots on goal apiece.
The
shutout marked the fourth of the season and 15th all-time for Drusch. She is
now three away from surpassing Barb Singer (17.5 shutouts, 1990-93) on Green
Bay's career shutouts list. Drusch also increased her school-record career
saves total to 364 in the contest.
TV REPLAY: Wednesday's match between the Phoenix and the Ramblers will be airing on Time Warner Cable Sports32 on Thursday night at 7 p.m., Friday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.
Green
Bay is back in action on Sunday in another important Horizon League contest,
hosting Wright State at Santaga Stadium at 12 p.m. CT.
