Spring Break
Bildstein, Yi clutch in women's soccer win over Yale
Dennis Rizzo
Issue date: 9/8/08 Section: Sports
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Friday's win came in dramatic fashion. With 3.1 seconds left on the clock, UConn (2-3) was awarded a free kick just outside Yale's penalty box because of a handball.
Trailing 1-0 after an early second half goal by Becky Brown gave the Bulldogs (0-1) the lead, Cory Bildstein lined up to take the free kick for UConn. Standing between her and the net was a wall of Yale players and Yale goalkeeper Ayana Sumiyasu, who made 12 saves against an onslaught of 31 shots.
"Before the shot I was just trying not to look at the clock and focus," said Bildstein.
Bildstein's free kick bent around the wall and rocketed past Sumiyasu into the upper corner of the net, tying the game and ending UConn's frustration with one second left in regulation. Several minutes into the second overtime, Annie Yi scored the game winner on a shot that sailed into the top-right corner of the net.
In his 28 years of coaching UConn women's soccer, Tsantiris said Bildstein's was the latest he could remember a goal being scored in a game during his tenure.
"I've been in games like this, but this game was electrifying," said Tsantiris. "Everyone got into the game, both the crowd and the players."
Neither team was able to score in the first 10-minute overtime period.
In the second overtime, Bildstein had a chance to be the hero again, but her shot with 7:30 left in the period missed in the first 10-minute overtime period.
In the second overtime, Bildstein had a chance to be the hero again, but her shot with 7:30 left in the period missed the Yale goal by inches.
With 2:05 left in the game, Yi, UConn's leading goal scorer from last season, fired a shot from outside the penalty box over the Yale goalkeeper, completing the Huskies' improbable comeback and sending the UConn sideline into a frenzy.
"Frustration with shots is part of the game," Tsantiris said. "Their keeper made great saves, but this is a great result. I'm happy for them."
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