Badgers Storm Cyclones; Kundert named MVP
September 08, 2002 | Women's Soccer
Junior Jenny Kundert led a balanced team attack as the UW women's soccer team defeated host Iowa State Sunday, 4-0, to close play in the Cyclone Classic. Kundert, a former Madison West athlete, tallied two goals and an assist versus Iowa State to earn tournament MVP honors.
'[Jenny] carried us today, but other players stepped up their game as well,' coach Dean Duerst said. 'It's so critical [for her] to be smart and use the players around her and for them to work as a unit. And today she did a very good job of that; making the most of her individual performance and utilizing others.'
Kundert aided on the game's first goal, the eventual game-winner. After junior defender Elly Patterson won the ball back from a Cyclone, she found Kundert up top. Kundert turned to beat a defender and passed the ball to sophomore Sarah Capel, who connected for her first goal of the year to make it 1-0.
'It was an electric goal,' Duerst said. 'It really gave us the boost we needed.'
Just before the break, the Badgers scored off a corner kick in the 44th minute. Rookie Erin Dubina registered her first collegiate assist, firing the corner to sophomore Molly Meuer. Meuer knocked it home for her first goal of 2002.
'We found our rhythm of play, our speed of play in passing, ' Duerst said. 'It was our best performance in those terms. It opened a lot of great opportunities.'
In the second half, Kundert and the Badgers took advantage of two free kicks to increase their lead over the Cyclones. Bethany Heine, who tallied an assist Friday night off a free kick, repeated the effort Sunday by sending the ball to Kundert. Kundert responded with her first goal of the season. Kundert added her second goal of the game off her own free kick, bending the ball around the wall and into the far upper corner of the goal.
Senior goalkeeper Kelly Conway notched three saves and sophomore keeper Lisa Mattiacci also saw time in the net for the Badgers. Conway, Heine and Kundert were named to the Cyclone Classic all-tournament team.
'It was a great team win because everyone we traveled got some quality time,' Duerst said.
The Badgers (2-1-1), who opened 2001 with an identical record after their first four road games, kick off their 2002 home schedule this weekend with the Rocky Rococo Classic. Wisconsin faces Connecticut this Friday at 7:30 p.m., at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
Tournament Awards:
Offensive MVP, Naomi Chu, Arizona
Defensive MVP, Vanesha Bailey, Arizona
Overall MVP, Jenny Kundert, Wisconsin
All-Tournament Team:
Naomi Chu, Arizona
Vanesha Bailey, Arizona
Amanda Martin, Arizona
Erin Clewitt, Arizona
Kelly Conway, Wisconsin
Jenny Kundert, Wisconsin
Bethany Heine, Wisconsin
Deb Benakis, Iowa State
Lindsey Lees, Iowa State
Anne-Marie Witko, Northern Iowa
Emily McCart, Northern Iowa
