Sept. 14, 2003

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, CA - For the second time in two games versus highly-ranked California competition, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team played to a first half draw. Unfortunately for the young Panthers, the Los Angeles team came away on top for the second straight time, as Loyola Marymount University scored a late second half goal for a 1-0 win here Sunday (Sept. 14). UWM dropped both games of the Loyola Marymount Invitational despite not allowing a goal in the first half of either contest. However, UWM remains winless on the season at 0-5-1 while LMU improves to 3-1-2.

"We really played well, especially in the first half," UWM head coach Michael Moynihan said. "Despite their 14 shots, they really only had two dangerous chances, with one of those creating a goal. It's frustrating to have control of the match but then have some things happen out of our control that totally swing the match. But, I guess that's how it goes when you are on the road versus a Top 20 caliber team."

The two teams played a very even first half with UWM carrying a slight edge on the stat sheet. LMU outshot the Panthers four to three in the stanza but Milwaukee created more scoring chances, thanks to six corner kicks to LMU's one. Kerri St. Aubin needed just one save in the first half to keep the game scoreless.

Milwaukee continued its fine play early into the second half, countering each Loyola attack with one of its own. The Lions tallied a high number of shots on the game, but a large portion of those came from 30 to 40 yards out. The momentum began to swing in LMU's favor midway through the stanza before the hosts finally broke through in the 76th minute. Shari Nishikawa scored the game's lone goal when she took a Jennifer Cefalia pass and barely beat St. Aubin at 76:40. LMU was able to hold on the rest of the way to claim the hard fought victory.

"I'm happy with the strides we took out here and we are headed in the right direction," added Moynihan. "Liz Chudy had her best game of the year and Becca Englund really played well. We are starting to get it together and play better."

The Panthers will hope the Horizon League schedule will provide some tonic as Milwaukee opens league play on Sunday (Sept. 21). UWM will travel to perennial league nemesis Butler for a 12:00 p.m. showdown in Indianapolis, Ind.