Aug. 26, 2004

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team opened its 2004 exhibition season in impressive fashion with a 3-1 defeat of No. 16 University of Michigan at Engelmann Field Thursday (Aug. 26). The Panthers took a 1-0 lead into the break and used two late goals to capture the exhibition opener for both teams. "You do have to keep things in perspective as this was only an exhibition game," UWM head coach Louis Bennett said. "Michigan was trying a lot of different players and teams tend to do things differently than they might usually do. However, when we got the ball on offense we flowed. We created a lot of good opportunites. For the most part, what you saw today is what you're goiong to see this season." The two teams see-sawed back and forth as both squads appeared rusty in the first action of the season. Michigan played the aggressor early and created a couple of dangerous chances in the first 15 minutes. Milwaukee battled back, however, and eventually took a 1-0 lead when senior Chris Brisson launched a 40-yard chip shot over the outstreched arms of Michigan goalkeeper Peter Dzubay. The Panther defense halted any further Wolverine rallies and took the one-goal lead into the break. Milwaukee outshot Michigan five to two in the first half and Panther keeper Kirk Thode needed just one save to keep it a one-goal game. Michigan again came out hard in the second half and eventually tied the score with a goal in the 58th minute. Kevin Hall ripped a shot on goal only to see teammate Kevin Savitskie redirect it past a helpless Thode and into the Panther net. The shot was just the third of the game for the Wolverines. Things continued to go back and forth throughout the second half before Milwaukee wore down Michigan late in the frame. The Panthers pressured the Michigan defense which led to numerous shot opportunities. Milwaukee finally broke through in the 85th minute when Cliff Ellsworth took a long Neil Dombrowski pass and lifted a left-footed shot over Wolverine reserve goalie Joe Zawacki. UWM scored the game-clinching goal in the final minute of the game as Antou Jallow found the back of the net from eight yards out following some nifty one-on-one moves. The Panthers outshot the visiting Wolverines 15-4 on the game and registered six corner kicks to the visitors one. Thode earned the victory between the pipes with one goal allowed and one save in 90 minutes of action. Zawacki allowed both second half goals and took the loss for Michigan. Milwaukee will finish the 2004 exhibition season Saturday (Aug. 28) with a 12 p.m. contest at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. UWM will kickoff the regular season next Friday (Sept. 3) versus Dayton in the Big Toe Soccer Invitational in Madison.