Aug. 30, 2002

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - It was a tale of two halfs in the opening match of the 2002 Verizon/Wireless Milwaukee Cup at Marquette University's Valley Field here Friday (August 30). Unfortunately for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team, their strong second half effort fell just short as the Panthers dropped a 2-1 decision to Oakland University in the season-opener for both 2001 NCAA Tournament teams.

Oakland, a 5-1 winner over UWM in last season's opener, controlled play early in the first half en route to a quick 1-0 lead. The Golden Grizzlies' Debbie Cartmel scored on a 10-yard breakaway with 11:11 gone thanks to a heading pass from Kristi Swaving. The two squads traded punches throughout much of the rest of the first stanza before OU struck again with a quick counterattack. Kim Moore gave Oakland a 2-0 advantage heading into the half when she headed home a ball sent up top by teammate Erica Demers at the 27:26 mark.

"I thought there were parts of the first half that we played very well," UWM head coach Michael Moynihan said. "We played against a team that threw a lot at us early on and they have some intelligent players."

The Panthers came out the aggressor in the second half and controlled the tempo of play for the entire 45 minutes. UWM attacked the stingy Grizzly defense time and again before finally breaking through in the game's 70th minute. The squad's leading returning goal-scorer, Evann Franklin, picked up where she left off in 2001 when she drilled home a ball at the 70:56 mark. The sophomore made a nice manuever from 12 yards out and put the ball past two defenders to cut the Oakland lead in half.

UWM had numerous other chances in the frame thanks to some inspired play from freshmen Janice McGann and Elizabeth Chudy and senior attacker Amy Oechsner. Chudy helped create numerous chances with her aggressiveness and athletic ability while Oechsner put pressure on the OU defense with quick runs to goal. McGann, a two-year member of the Canadian U-19 National Team, controlled play from the midfield and just missed a chance at her first career goal when her blast from 35-yards smacked the crossbar and bounced away from the net.

"We found a much better rhythm in the second half and I really like the way we fought," Moynihan added. "We played with tons of intensity and gave ourselves something to build on. I though Elizabth and Janice played very well tonight, especially for their first college matches."

Milwaukee will enjoy a day of rest before participating in the second game of the Milwaukee Cup on Sunday (September 1). The Panthers will play in front of the home crowd for the first time in 2002 with a 2:30 p.m. match versus defending Mid-American Conference foe, Ohio University. The UWM-OU match will be precluded by a noon contest between Oakland and Marquette.