DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Top Marquette in Double Overtime
11/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The DePaul women's soccer team won their opening match of the Conference USA Tournament with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over third-seeded Marquette. Erin Walter's goal in the 107th minute was the game-winner and sends the Blue Demons into the semifinals.
Conference USA Player of the Year Julianne Sitch opened the scoring early for the Blue Demons with a goal in the 16th minute. Lauren Spacht assisted the goal at 15:51. Just prior to the goal, Sitch couldn't connect on a pair of scoring opportunities as she sailed a shot high on a breakaway and then hit the crossbar.
"Give Marquette a lot of credit," said head coach John Wilson. "Anytime you have a rivalry you can throw everything out the window. I'm extremely proud of my kids. It proves that they have risen to the occasion."
Marquette tied the match when Laura Culhane found the net at 81:17. She won control of the ball in front of the Blue Demon net and knocked a shot in past goalkeeper Lindseay Deason. Neither team could score for the remainder of regulation, forcing overtime.
Following a scoreless first overtime period, Walter broke away and sent a pass over to Sitch. Sitch returned the ball to Walter at the top of the box and she flipped it over Marquette keeper Katie Bissen for the game-winner. For Walter, it was her fourth goal of the season and second game-winner. Sitch was credited with her six assist of the season.
The win is the first for the program in three all-time C-USA Tournament games. DePaul knocked off Marquette, who they were winless against entering the season, for the second time in two weeks.
The Blue Demons play in the first semifinal on Thursday 4 p.m. CST against the Tulane Green Wave. The Green Wave played the TCU Horned Frogs to a scoreless tie before winning on penalty kicks, 3-1.
DePaul and Tulane did not play each other during the regular season in 2003. In their last meeting, the Blue Demons topped the Green Wave, 3-0, on Sept. 29, 2002 at Wish Field. Sitch scored twice and Margo Sackmaster added a goal in the victory. Tulane leads the all-time series, 4-2-0.
