OREGON - As every player's pace had begun to slow in the accumulating snow, Monroe's main mark emerged from the white landscape in a heart-breaking 1-0 season-opening loss for the Cheesemakers.
Allyson Connor, a first-team Badger South selection and the Panthers' leading scorer last season, scored the game's only goal on a header in the 76th minute.
Connor's header narrowly escaped the fingertips of Monroe keeper, junior Niamh O'Neill-Cullhane as the prime-time performer finally escaped Monroe's watchful eye.
"She was the person we'd been watching all game," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill said.
O'Neill credited captain Priti Rana, along with Pam Lehman and Abby Lubeck for spearheading the defense that wouldn't allow Connor and company any access in the first half as Monroe dominated possession.
The Cheesemakers outshot the Panthers in the first half as they peppered another first-teamer, goaltender Laura Atkinson.
Then the snow started to stick and make all parties miserable, although Oregon seemed to have a little more track on its snow tires.
"We started to feel the wear and tear in the second half and they started beating us to more 50-50 balls," O'Neill said.
Nonetheless, the skipper couldn't help but praise her defense that should keep the upstart squad in every conference contest in 2008.
"It was a hard-fought game and our defense was just amazing," O'Neill said.
Allyson Connor, a first-team Badger South selection and the Panthers' leading scorer last season, scored the game's only goal on a header in the 76th minute.
Connor's header narrowly escaped the fingertips of Monroe keeper, junior Niamh O'Neill-Cullhane as the prime-time performer finally escaped Monroe's watchful eye.
"She was the person we'd been watching all game," Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill said.
O'Neill credited captain Priti Rana, along with Pam Lehman and Abby Lubeck for spearheading the defense that wouldn't allow Connor and company any access in the first half as Monroe dominated possession.
The Cheesemakers outshot the Panthers in the first half as they peppered another first-teamer, goaltender Laura Atkinson.
Then the snow started to stick and make all parties miserable, although Oregon seemed to have a little more track on its snow tires.
"We started to feel the wear and tear in the second half and they started beating us to more 50-50 balls," O'Neill said.
Nonetheless, the skipper couldn't help but praise her defense that should keep the upstart squad in every conference contest in 2008.
"It was a hard-fought game and our defense was just amazing," O'Neill said.
