Notre Dame ends Gophers' season in NCAA women's soccer tournament

The nation's top-ranked team scored on a penalty kick in overtime, ending the Gophers' NCAA tournament run.

By KYLE KNUST, Special to the Star Tribune

Last update: December 31, 2008 - 4:53 PM

SOUTH BEND, IND. — For over 90 minutes, the Minnesota women's soccer team held the top-ranked and undefeated Notre Dame squad scoreless, thanks to a smothering defensive scheme and timely stops by senior goalkeeper Lindsey Dare.

Unfortunately for Dare, when it mattered most, her defense wasn't allowed to be there for her.

All-America senior forward Kerri Hanks scored on a penalty kick in overtime to lift the Irish to a 1-0 victory over Minnesota in the third round of the NCAA tournament Friday night.

"I don't think we had anything else to give out there," Gophers coach Mikki Denney Wright said after the game.

Hanks broke away from the pack with just over three minutes left in the first overtime and split a pair of Gophers defenders before going down and the whistle was blown.

Minutes earlier, sophomore Katie Bethke put a shot into the arms of Irish keeper Kelsey Lysander.

Hanks' goal came after the Gophers defense frustrated the high-scoring offense of the Irish for 96 minutes.

The back-line trio of Jennie Clark and Krystle and Kylie Kallman clogged the passing lanes around the goal and kept Dare from facing many shots.

"We got some good looks, but we didn't put the shots at the frames like we wanted to," Irish coach Randy Waldrum said. "Give them a lot of credit; they're a good team. ...

"I think the field conditions were an equalizer for them. We weren't able to play with the speed and precision that we're used to, and that helped them."

Waldrum was referring to an almost-icy field that slowed the fleet-footed Irish (24-0-0).

Minnesota's best offensive chances came in the first half: one on a shot from 18 yards by senior midfielder Clare Grimwood and the other a rocket from 30 by sophomore Julie Rezac. Both shots were corralled by Lysander.

But the Gophers (22-4-0) spent the second half playing Russian roulette with the potent Irish offense, which outshot Minnesota 15-3 in the second half.

Notre Dame's best chance in regulation came on a free kick attempt in the 87th minute by Hanks from just outside the 18-yard box after a hard foul. Hanks put the shot just high into the right corner and over the goal.

Hanks also missed on a breakaway attempt in the 68th. She drove down the left wing and beat the Gophers defender before pushing her shot wide right of the goal.

"I'm just so proud of my girls," Denney Wright said, huddled with her seniors as a tear ran down her cheek. "We gave them everything that we had tonight."

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