CLEVELAND, Ohio - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team dominated possession and chances, but had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Cleveland State University Saturday at Krenzler Field.
 
The Panthers (3-9-3, 1-4-2 Horizon League) more than doubled up the Vikings (6-7-2, 2-3-2 Horizon League) on the shot chart at 15-to-7, including all three of the recorded attempts in the overtime periods, but could not convert en route to the scoreless tie on a warm and windy late-October day for soccer.
 
"It was another hard-fought game," UWM head coach Kris Kelderman said. "The guys came to play today – the effort was there, the fight was there, the will to win was there. As a coach, that is all I can ask for from my guys. We are just failing to finish and I know I keep saying that. It's not a lack of the will to win, it's just in that final execution. We outshot them by more than double again today, had more corners, and I felt we were very good in the run of play."
 
Senior Agustin Rey needed just one save to account for his second shutout on the season, but it was key. It came in the 86^th minute following a near-miss by sophomore Kostas Kotselas from the top of the box and a counter attack following a UWM corner kick. The Vikings quickly grabbed possession and had a two-on-one break, but Rey came off his line and made the vital save to keep it scoreless.
 
"Defensively, we were very strong," Kelderman said. "We are at a stage in the season where we really need three points and, unfortunately, we didn't get it. Guys continue to play out of position and do a nice job. It comes down to scoring. All I can say is as frustrating as this has been, the guys come out fighting and working hard – we're just having a tough time grinding out a result."
 
Neither team could get comfortable in the first period, as plenty of defensive disruption did not allow for either side to put much together. The game went to intermission without a shot on frame by either team, with UWM recording four of the five attempts over the first 45 minutes.
 
The second half saw a bit more action both ways. Milwaukee recorded eight more shots in the period, with freshman Francesco Saporito accounting for a near-goal late. Kotselas picked up a turnover midfield and fed Saporito on the break. He rifled one on frame from about 35 yards, barely pushed over the cross bar by the CSU keeper in the 79^th minute.
 
The Panthers had all of the chances in the extra periods, including a final opportunity with just 14 seconds left by freshman Sean Holmes, but it went high and the horn sounded.
 
Statistics in the game included the 15-7 advantage in shots for Milwaukee. It also forced six of the 10 corner kicks on the day and was whistled for 14 of the 27 fouls.
 
Up next, a final non-league contest midweek against Western Illinois. That comes Tuesday, set for a 7 p.m. start at Engelmann Stadium.