SOUTH BEND - The Michigan women's soccer team's season came down to penalty kicks, but the Wolverines came up just short.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Michigan played scoreless through regulation and overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before the Panthers emerged victorious with a 5-3 score in the penalty-kick round.

"Every single player on the field gave it everything they had," senior co-captain Katelin Spencer said. "Some days you just get unlucky."

Senior goalkeeper Megan Tuura - whose phenomenal play allowed Michigan to make it to extra time - could not come up with the timely save in the shootout.

The teams traded goals in the first two rounds, and Wisconsin-Milwaukee made it 3-2 before junior defender Lindsey Cottrell's shot sailed just inches over the crossbar.

Panther Bailey Briggs's conversion in the fifth round sealed the game.

It was a tough pill for the team to swallow after a hard-fought and physical game.

"It is sad to see a game end that way, but we fought for 90 minutes and two overtimes and we competed," Spencer said.

The first-half competition did not go as expected. Both sides failed to generate any sustained offensive pressure, combining for just three shots in a choppy half.

Michigan lost one of its steadiest defenders, freshman Amy Klippert, who suffered a devastating injury in the 21st minute that forced her to leave the field on a stretcher. As has been the case all season, though, a younger player filled in admirably for an injured starter. Sophomore defender Erica Gordy seized the opportunity, playing in just her seventh game this season.

"I am pleased with (Gordy's) ability to go into a big game and be able to focus and contribute the way she did," Michigan coach Debbie Rademacher said.

Gordy was a big reason the game remained scoreless through regulation. After halftime, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (7-0 Horizon League, 17-3-1 overall) dominated territorially and created numerous dangerous chances. Crucial blocked shots from the sophomore prevented near-goals for the Panthers. And Tuura, as she has done for her entire career, took care of anything that made it through the Michigan defense.

The goalie's best friend came in handy, too.

In the 63rd minute, Panther Kate Megna's shot from just outside the 18-yard box on the left side was ticketed for the far post, top corner. Tuura reacted quickly and got her fingertips on the ball, causing it to ricochet into the crossbar. It took a fortuitous bounce and fell into Tuura's lap before a Panther attacker could knock the ball into the open net.

The Wisconsin-Milwaukee fans saw it differently, as they boisterously celebrated a goal even while play continued.

Regulation ended with the game scoreless. Ever-resilient Michigan (4-3-3 Big Ten, 9-8-5) regrouped and almost stole the game in overtime. Junior striker Melissa Dobbyn unleashed a rocket volley from long-range in the 107th minute. But goalkeeper Erin Kane reached up and punched the ball over the crossbar. Dobbyn, who was injured in Michigan's last game, gave a gritty performance playing with a leg brace that reached up to her thigh.

With the reliable Tuura defending the net, it looked like the Wolverines could make it through penalty kicks with the win. But Wisconsin-Milwaukee's shooters were dead-on, and Michigan's season ended on a heart-breaking note.

The loss marks the finish to the collegiate careers of an extremely productive trio of seniors - striker Judy Coffman, Spencer and Tuura.

But even with the disappointing result, Michigan could still reflect positively on a season where it overcame adversity to qualify for the tournament.

"I feel we had the ability to go further, but we also had numerous injuries to key players," Rademacher said. "We have had people contribute big-time goals at crucial points in the season when they had never even scored before or have not had much playing time before."

Despite its first-round exit, there is a bright future for the Michigan women's soccer team. It returns its starting defense that allowed a program-low 20 goals and saw the emergence of some young talent.