Berendowsky 2OT goal nets 'M' soccer's first Big Ten title

BLAINE, Minn. - Four years ago, Debbie Belkin took over a Michigan soccer team with no history and an uncertain future. Four years later as the Wolverines celebrate their first-ever Big Ten tournament championship, the program has a solid past, a bright future and an even more exciting present.

Michigan claimed the title yesterday with a 1-0, double-overtime victory over Northwestern. For the Wolverines, who knocked off Ohio State and Penn State on their way to their victory over the Wildcats, the run through the tournament couldn't have been sweeter.

PAUL TALANIAN/Daily The Michigan soccer team celebrates after winning the Big Ten tournament title last night. The victory gives the Wolverines an automatic NCAA tournament bid.

"I've never had a greater moment in my life," said Michigan forward Amber Berendowsky, who netted the game-winning goal in the second overtime. "It's a great feeling."

The game was not typical for the Wolverines, who were used to having their high-powered offense lead them to victory. Instead, while both teams mounted offensive threats throughout the game, stellar goalkeeping kept the game scoreless through both halves and through the first overtime.

Then, four minutes into the second overtime, Berendowsky wound up from just outside the box and blasted a shot into the upper right corner of the net just beyond Northwestern goalie Wendy Scholz's reach.

It was only fitting that Berendowsky, who set the Big Ten record for points in a season with her performance this weekend, was the deciding factor.

"She was shut down, and she didn't have any good chances all day," Belkin said of Berendowsky, who was the focus of opponents' defenses the entire weekend. "But when great players get that one shot, they'll make good on it."

The game was a battle from the outset, with both teams capturing momentum and using it to lauch a barrage of shots at the opposing goaltender. Scholz, voted second team All-Big Ten, and Michigan goalie Carissa Stewart each turned away numerous opportunities to ensure that the game remained scoreless.

With just five seconds left in the second half, Scholz thwarted Michigan forward Kacy Beitel's breakaway attempt, sending the game into overtime. Scholz, who holds Big Ten game, season and career records for saves, was virtually perfect on the day, recording 15.

"I don't think anyone was expecting us to beat Minnesota and give Michigan such a game - except us," Scholz said.

Scholz was largely responsible for the Wildcats' improbable victory over the top-ranked Golden Gophers on Saturday in a shootout. After Minnesota took a 2-0 lead in the semifinal match, Scholz shut down the Gophers and gave the Wildcats a chance to come back. The Wildcats responded with two goals to send the game into an overtime.

Despite dominating both 15 minute overtimes, Minnesota was unable to finish off the fourth-seeded Wildcats.

Unlike the stunned Gophers, Michigan's ride to the championship game was a little easier. The Wolverines dominated Friday's match against Ohio State, allowing only one shot on goal the entire game.

Saturday's matchup against No. 3 seed Penn State featured the rematch of a 0-0 tie earlier in the season. The Nittany Lions scored first midway through the first half, but Michigan was not to be denied a trip to the finals.

Five minutes after Penn State notched the first goal, Berendowsky sped around the last line of Lion defenders and delivered a centering pass that Jessica Limauro chipped in to tie the game. The Wolverines dominated from that point on, adding two second-half goals to ice the game.

11-10-97