Aug. 29, 2008
 
Sophomore Kelly Blumenschein delivered a game-winning goal at the 103:59 mark to send the University of Dayton Women's Soccer team (2-0) past Pittsburgh (0-2) in the opening round of the Illini Cup Challenge on Friday night.

As the first half came to a close, it looked like it would be smooth sailing for the Flyers. Sophomore Jerica DeWolfe notched her first goal of the season at the 11:44 mark off a bobbled ball to give the Flyers a 1-0 advantage. UD then extended its lead when junior Caitlin Proffitt scored - for the second time this season - in the 37th minute.

Pitt answered back in the second stanza, however, with two goals scored within seven minutes of each other.

"Early in the game they had six or seven corners," said UD head coach Mike Tucker. "We defended them pretty well, but they were still dangerous. Their first goal was a disputed foul call right at the top of the box, and they scored off of that. Then we mis-cleared another ball they scored on, we definitely lost our composure for a little bit there and then we got impatient in the attack."

Amidst some physical play, and 16 fouls between both teams, the Flyers were able to hold steady and fend off the Pitt attack for the remainder of the period.

"There were a lot of fouls, and it got a little physical at times," said Tucker. "But a lot of the calls were probably well-deserved. There's always some in the game you just shake your head at, and we had our fair share of those, but there were plenty of fouls called on both teams."

In the overtime period the two teams remained gridlocked in a defensive struggle until Blumenschein unleashed the game-winning kick.

"We were able to get a good combination and got into the box," said Tucker.  Caitlin Proffitt knocked it off one of their defenders, it came clean and Kelly Blumenschein was there and hit a real nice ball. The keeper almost made a great save on it, but it got off her and trickled into the goal."

Although Tucker had his issues with his team's performance, especially after what he saw in a 4-1 Flyer triumph over No. 26 Indiana last week, he was pleased with the victory.

"The thing for me that stands out among everything was how our girls just persevered and found a way to win the game," said Tucker. "At times, it looked like we could have panicked and totally blown it, but we found a way."

After surviving Pitt, the Flyers will now prepare to face No. 18 Illinois, which defeated Iowa State 3-1. They face off in the championship match of the Illini Cup Challenge on Sunday at 3 p.m.