Nov. 11, 2001

Detroit, Mich. -- Kristine Coburn scored the golden goal to lift UWM past Butler, 1-0, in triple overtime in the Horizon League championship game Sunday afternoon at Titan Field. The win earns the Panthers (15-4) a bid into the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.

Coburn's goal came in the 123rd minute off an assist from senior midfielder Julie Ruma. Ruma sent in a ball from midfield over the defense, allowing Coburn to run on to it for a one-on-one with Butler goalkeeper Amber Stauch. Coburn got a head on the bouncing ball right before Stauch plowed in to her, scoring into the back of the open net.

"It hurt," Coburn said after receiving a bloody nose on the play. "I got smacked by the goalkeeper, but scoring the goal made it feel pretty good."

"It was a game fitting for a championship final," UWM coach Michael Moynihan said. "I thought we played well and I thought Butler played well. Our defense still did not allow a goal even though they put a lot of pressure on us."

The game handled easily enough in the first half for the Panthers, who dominated possession but didn't have any clear-cut chances to score. But Butler challenged harder in the second half and threatened closer to goal. The Bulldogs actually connected on a cross in the 61st minute, but the goal was ruled offsides. That gave Butler more confidence throughout the rest of the game, forcing UWM sophomore goalkeeper Kerri St. Aubin to record five saves.

UWM also had a goal called back in the second half when Amy Oechsner was called for a foul after beating three defenders to the ball and then Stauch with a shot. The game was fought hard by both teams for the rest of regulation, with momentum changing back and forth until UWM finally put it away in the third overtime.

"It was an odd game in the sense that the flow changed so many times. With the way we came out full of energy, I thought we would have scored a lot of goals. But as the game went on, there were drastic momentum changes."

Butler finished the game with the advantage on shots, 9-6, while each team recorded five corner kicks. Stauch tallied four saves on the game for Butler.

"I'm happiest for the seniors--what a way to finish their careers," Moynihan said. "We've been so close to winning the championship the last few years, but the reason we finally did it this year all comes down to the leadership."

The last time UWM won the league championship and advanced to the NCAA came in 1997, after the Panthers beat Butler in penalty kicks. Coburn, whose gamewinner today came as just the second goal of her career, was a member of the 1997 squad as a redshirt freshman.

"It's exciting," Coburn said of winning the championship. "I was on the team as a redshirt in 1997, and going to the NCAA as a senior is definitely a way to end it."

The shutout over Butler comes as the 13th shutout this year, while UWM finishes the league season without allowing a single goal. This season already gives the Panthers the school record in wins and shutouts, beating the previous-held 13 wins and 10 shutouts both set in 1997.

Senior midfielder Erin Blaedow, the 2001 Horizon League Player of the Year, was named the tournament MVP. Also selected to the Horizon League All-Tournament team from UWM were St. Aubin, junior midfielder Katie Kubacki and junior defender Carrie Durand.