Milwaukee-Playing a man down since the 18th minute and a 2-1 score at halftime, the UWM men's soccer team came from behind with a dramatic three-goal second-half performance to overcome Northern Illinois, 4-2, Wednesday night in Dekalb. Capturing the John Lewang Trophy with the victory, the Panthers celebrate their second consecutive win away and a 2-1 record.

"We had an unbelievable second-half performance. One by one, we broke and got it back," said coach Louis Bennett. "It's the kind of performance that can bring tears. It was a very spirited effort."

Junior forward Ryan Seymour opened scoring with a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute from six yards out. In the next minute, the Panthers were forced to play short when senior captain Scott Dombrowski was issued two yellow cards, thus resulting in a red car and sending him off the field. Dombrowski was called for a foul in the Panthers' box, which set up a Northern Illinois penalty kick. Dombrowski debated the call, and immediately received a second card from the official. The Huskies converted the kick to equalize, 1-1.

Initially at odds with the numerical disadvantage, the Panthers couldn't organize quick enough in the first half. Northern Illinois scored again in the 37th minute, taking a 2-1 lead to halftime.

"At halftime, we reorganized and made some tactical changes," said Bennett. "Blake Bostwick took the bulk of the responsibility. He was a titan-he just took the team on his back. And then when everyone felt they could do it themselves, they all jumped off and did their own thing."

Wearing down the Huskies with their fortitude in the second half, UWM tied the game in the 61st minute when freshman midfielder Daniel Saavedra provided a flashy attack. The former Milwaukee Tech standout dribbled the ball from half, beating defenders right and left to score from just inside the box.

Sophomore defender Chad Dombrowski then provided the go-ahead goal when he headed-in a corner kick from midfielder Kevin Roethe. Saavedra finished off the Panthers' scoring spree with his second goal of the night, coming off a 10-yard blast.

"When you couple the two pieces of individual brilliance from Daniel with the steel, determination, and belief of the rest of the team, this was an absolutely huge performance," said Bennett.