Nov. 3, 2000

MILWAUKEE-An early goal proved to be the game-winner for the UWM women's soccer team on Friday night, allowing them to advance to Sunday's MCC Tournament championship game. Seeded first in the tournament, the Panthers held tight to the early lead over Butler to win, 1-0, in the semifinal match in Dayton, Ohio.

"It's tough coming into the tournament as the number one seed. We were picked to win it, and it's like a bullseye on us. We went undefeated in the regular season, and we're the team to beat. Everyone plays with so much emotion against us, it's tough," said UWM coach Michael Moynihan.

Sophomore forward Kristin Munyon stepped it up for the Panthers, scoring in the 20th minute off an assist from senior Katie Waltenberger. Waltenberger, starting as an outside midfielder, beat her defender wide to send a cross far post into the box. Munyon got up over the Bulldog defense and headed it back to the near post from eight yards out past Butler goalkeeper Randi Freeman.

Pitching her fourth shutout in MCC play, freshman goalkeeper Kerri St. Aubin recorded nine saves on the game. Recently named MCC Co-Player of the Year, senior defender Fanta Cooper anchored a strong defensive unit to help savor the 1-0 lead.

The Panthers return to action on Sunday as they play tournament host Wright State in the MCC championship game at 11 a.m. central time. Seeded third with a 2-2-1 MCC record, Wright State defeated Detroit, 1-0, on Friday in earlier semifinal match-up. UWM remains undefeated in conference with a 6-0 MCC record, and are 11-7-1. Sunday's game comes as a rematch of last year's MCC championship game, when Wright State advanced to the NCAA Tournament on penalty kicks over UWM. The Panthers beat the Raiders earlier this season, 2-0.

"It's a great win today and a very emotional one, but we came to win TWO games. Wright State is a very good team defensively. The keep a lot of numbers in the back, so they are difficult to penetrate. It should be a tight match-up," said Moynihan.