Oct. 19, 2001
AKRON, OHIO--The No. 16 UWM men's soccer team lost a heartbreaker in the closing seconds to Akron Friday night at Lee Jackson Field. The Panthers (12-3) came from behind before losing, 3-2, to the streaking Zips (7-3-1), who have won their last seven games.
Akron's David Senn scored the game-winner on a penalty kick with just 22 seconds remaining in the game after being taken down in the box.
Down two goals after playing a dismal first half, UWM stepped it up dramatically in the second half to tie it up before Senn's deciding goal.
"Obviously I was a little disappointed with the way we played in the first half," UWM coach Louis Bennett said. "Being nationally ranked, there's a level of expectation on our backs. We didn't come with that quality of play, level of intensity and simple desire in the first half. In the second half, I recognized our team."
B.J. Blake scored both goals for UWM, with his first coming in the 63rd minute. After Ryan Seymour challenged Akron goalkeeper Kyle Milligan to a high shot, Blake knocked in the loose ball from eight yards out.
The sophomore forward then scored the equalizer in the 81st minute after displaying brilliant control and composure on a breakaway. Blake chested and controlled a bouncing ball and then finished it by popping it over Milligan to score.
"After the first goal, I was just working my butt off and waiting for an opportunity," Blake said. "I've been waiting for these chances a long time, and just hope they will keep coming. But obviously near the end, there was a complete turn of emotion."
Akron's Torbjorn Birkeland scored in the 21st minute, finishing a loose ball that was deflected in. Orjan Bjaneso scored the Zips second goal in the 42nd minute, beating UWM's defense and goalkeeper Chris Dadaian to a cross into the box.
The Zips outshot the Panthers, 22-18, while Milligan recorded six saves on the match for Akron, while Dadaian tallied three.
"We have to move on from this game," Bennett said. "We face three very important Horizon League games on the road."
The next game comes Sunday at 1 p.m., as the Panthers take on Cleveland State in Ohio.
