Oct. 24, 2003

Box Score

CHICAGO, ILL. - Playing its fifth road game of the Horizon League season and second in three nights, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team persevered for a 3-2 overtime win over Loyola University here Friday (Oct. 24). The win clinched the 2003 Horizon League regular season for Milwaukee, while extending its league unbeaten streak to 23 games. UWM is currently 12-4-1 overall and 6-0-1 in the league with one game left in the regular season. With the loss, Loyola falls to 5-7-2 and 1-5-0 in league action.

Milwaukee gained control of the match in the early going and was able to create numerous scoring chances despite the windy and rainy weather conditions. UWM's Adam Gehrt scored the only first half goal of the game when he headed home a long-range Trent Furtsch pass in the 23rd minute. The goal was the first of Gehrt's career while the assist was Furtsch's fourth of the season.

The Panthers outshot the Ramblers eight to three in the first half while Loyola recorded three corner kicks to UWM's one. UWM keeper Kirk Thode stopped three shots to keep the hosts scoreless in the first 45 minutes.

UWM pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 58th minute on the fourth goal of the year from senior Kyle Lance. The forward collected a ball inside the penalty area thanks to assists from Furtsch and sophomore Neil Dombrowski. The Panthers kept the 2-0 lead for the next 15 minutes before the Ramblers made a late game push.

Loyola cut into the Milwukee lead in the 75th minute when Blake Kluesner's 18-yard blast went through reserve goalkeeper Eric Mickschl's hands and into the back of the net. The Ramblers continued to push and eventually notched the equalizer in the 83rd minute. Stephen Sprague collected a Mark Eckerle pass from 18-yards out and turned and blasted a shot home at the 82:59 mark. The two teams played the remainder of the half scoreless, setting up the overtime period.

UWM wasted little time in the overtime period as senior Tighe Dombrowski led the Panthers to their third straight undefeated Horizon League season. In the games 92nd minute, or less than two minutes into extra time, the 5-8 Dombrowski rose above the Loyola defense and headed home a Bobby Lish crossing pass for his career-high sixth goal of the year.

Milwaukee has now won at least 12 games in each of the last five seasons and for the seventh time in eight years under coach Louis Bennett. The Panthers, who finish up the regular season on Wednesday (Oct. 29) at Marquette, earned hosting rights to the 2003 Horizon League Tournament for the third straight season. The tournament is set to begin with quarterfinal games on Saturday, Nov. 8.