Aug. 21, 2003

Box Score

The No. 18 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team finished its 2003 exhibition season in fine fashion, defeating in-state rival University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh 3-0 here Thursday (Aug. 21). The Panthers outshot their DIII visitors 14-6 as the two teams played in miserable 95-degree heat and high humidity.

UW-Oshkosh came out of the gates fired up and appeared to control the game in the very early portions of the first half. The Titans created a couple of different scoring chance in the first ten minutes but couldn't find the back of the net. UWM then took control of the game and scored the first goal of the game in the 26th minute. Senior Bobby Lish drilled home a shot from 15 yards shot after juking two Oshkosh defenders. Midfielder Chris Brisson added an assist on the play, his first of the exhibition season.

The Panthers made it 2-0 just before half as All-America candidate Antou Jallow drove home a header at the 43:25 mark. Jallow was able to connect thanks to a beautiful free kick from junior defender Trent Furtsch. The scoring chance was created when UW-Oshkosh defender C.J. Lipinski received a yellow card deep in the UWM zone. Milwaukee outshout the Titans 8-3 in the first half, with five of the eight shots on goal.

"We are trying to fire on all cylinders and tonight we were able to get closer to that," UWM head coach Louis Bennett said. "We aren't finished improving by any means but we were able to create some chances, especially in the second half. UW-Oshkosh is a solid team who plays aggressively and will knock you around and that's what we wanted. We played well enough but there is certainly some food for thought there."

Milwaukee continued to control the tempo in the second half as the heat and humidity appeared to take its toll. The Panthers finally found the back of the net midway through the second half, thanks to some fine team play. Julian Chang drilled a 12 yard shot to the far post, thanks to assists from Jallow and the second of the game from Furtsch. The Panthers took three more shots on goal in the final 15 minutes but couldn't beat Oshkosh keeper, Bobby Post.

Milwaukee, ranked No. 18 in the NSCAA/adidas Preseason Top 25 poll, opens the 2003 season Friday (Aug. 29) versus Northern Illinois. The contest is the first match of the Rocky Rococo Classic held at the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison. Friday's game is set to begin at 5 p.m.