Sept. 14, 2003

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, KY. - Failing to hold onto leads will hurt any team and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team found that out the hard way on Sunday (Sept. 14) when it blew two different leads in dropping a 3-2 decision to the University of Memphis in the second day of the Louisville/Seelbach Classic. UWM grabbed leads of 1-0 and 2-1 but could not hold on as it lost for the second time in a row, and third time in four games. The Panthers fell to 3-3 on the season while Memphis improved to 2-1 with the victory.

"It was a very well played soccer game but I am obviously very disappointed with the result," UWM head coach Louis Bennett. "The first half really resembled Panther soccer but we seem to have a recuring theme of not being able to score goals like we are used to. We scored key goals at key times last season, and so far this year, we aren't getting that done."

Things looked good very early as the Panthers took a 1-0 lead on the quickest goal in school history. Bobby Lish took the opening kick, threaded a long pass through the middle, where a streaking B.J. Blake corraled the ball and raced in for the goal. The tally, which came :19 into the match, broke the school record for the fastest goal to start a game by four seconds. Milwaukee continued to create chances in the first half but an inability to put the ball into the back of the net would come back to haunt the Panthers.

Memphis continued to play well and eventually tied the game at the 32:52 mark on an Andy Metcalf goal. The Tiger goal was set up by a mistake and turnover by the UWM midfield. As a result of the UM goal, the two teams went into the half tied at one. Memphis outshot Milwaukee 6-5 in the half but the Panthers took four shots on goal to two for the Tigers.

"Right now our defense is adequate but not good enough to allow us to win games," Bennett noted. "Our offense has been decent, but it to hasn't done enough and scored enough goals to put us over the top. Right now we are missing the glue that holds us together. We are just trying to find ourselves a little bit."

The Panthers again took control of the match with their second lead with a goal in the 59th minute. UWM junior forward Cliff Ellsworth scored his first goal as a Panther when he tucked a ball into the back of the net, thanks to a nifty pass from Chris Brisson. The goal, which came at the 59:32 mark, gave UWM a 2-1 cushion.

However, Memphis came storming back 10 minutes later and quickly tied the game. Another mistake in the UWM midfield created another turnover and the Tigers took advantage, struck quickly, and scored the equalizer at 69:32. Things got worse for UWM in the 80th minute when Metecalf's second goal of the game proved to be the game winner. The Panthers created a few more chances late in the match but, uncharacteristically, couldn't find the back of the net.

"All the credit goes to Memphis today," Bennett added. "They were resilient and competitive. The capitalized on their chances while capitalizing on our scoring ineptitude. We are no longer a surprise to anyone. Anyone who plays us looks forward to it and they are extremely excited to beat us. We need to step up to that challenge."

Milwaukee will look to get back on track next weekend at the Green Bay FILA Classic. The Panthers will play UM-Kansas City at 2:30 p.m. in Green Bay.