Sept. 12, 2004

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Craig Mallace's first career goal was an important one. However, it was his second that really proved key as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee defeated the University of Pennsylvania 2-1 in overtime in the Coca-Cola Panther Invitational here Sunday (Sept. 12). Mallace scored both of UWM's goals as the Panthers improved to 1-1-2 on the season. Penn split a pair of games on the weekend to move to 1-2-0 on the year.

Penn looked to be the aggressor early on while controlling possession for much of the first half. The Quakers moved the ball around effectively in their offensive zone and kept the UWM attack at bay. Penn eventually scored in the 21st minute to take a 1-0 lead. David Maier took a shot that slipped through keeper Kirk Thode's hands and bounced off the post. Defender Justin Estrada collected the loose ball and tapped it into the open net.

The Quakers took six shots in the first half to just two for the hosts. Thode made just one save in the first 45:00 while Penn keeper Daniel Cepero needed just one save to keep the Panthers off the board.

The second half proved to be an entirely different half as Milwaukee dominated play. The Panthers switched the lineup in the second half and the change created numerous offensive opportunities.

Milwaukee notched the equalizer in the 72st minute with a nice offensive set. Reserve keeper Eric Mickschl started the play when he took a loose ball and launched a long pass to a streaking Cliff Ellsworth. Ellsworth carried the ball forward and crossed it to Neil Dombrowski. Dombrowski served a ball in the box where freshman Troy Spielmann played it to Mallace. Mallace then juked two defenders beflore sliding a shot under the arms of Cepero to knot the game 1-1.

The Panthers continued to press the remainder of the half but couldn't find the back of the net as regulation expired. The Milwaukee offensive attack continued into the overtime session as the hosts controlled possession for much of extra time.

UWM missed on its first two shot attempts of overtime before finally putting the game away in the 97th minute. The Panthers played the ball into the Penn penalty area where Cepero chased down the shot. Cepero then played the ball to a defender who attempted to move the ball forward. However, Mallace snuck in the backfield, intercepted the pass, made a move and pushed the golden goal past Cepero just inside the far post.

Milwaukee battled back and ended up with a 13-12 shot advantage while the Quakers claimed a six to two edge in corner kicks. Mickschl made one save in 51:01 in goal to earn his first win of the season. Cepero made two saves for Penn in defeat.

In the first game of the day Wisconsin led the whole way but staved off a late attack from No. 20 Tulsa en route to a 3-2 victory. The Badgers Reid Johnson scored twice for Wisconsin while Ryan Pore scored both Tulsa goals. UT's Derrick Wasson appeared to score the equalizer in the final minute but Pore was called for a foul against the UW keeper, negating the game-tying goal.

All four teams finished the tournament with 1-1 records but Tulsa earned the tourney title thanks to an edge in overall goals scored (6). Pore, the tournament's leader with four goals, was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player while Wisconsin's Eric Hanson earned Goalie MVP honors. Joining Pore and Hanson on the all-tournament team were Nick Van Sicklin from Wisconsin, Lawson Vaughn and Todd Goddard of Tulsa, Justin Estrada, David Maier, and Derrick Jumper from Penn and UWM's Trent Furtsch, Cliff Ellsworth and Khaled El-Ahmad.

Milwaukee will return to action on Friday (Sept. 17) with a 6:00 p.m. contest versus No. 17 Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C.

Game Notes

* The two goals for Craig Mallace were the first two of his career

* Troy Spielmann registered his first career assist on the first Mallace goal

* With the win UWM improved to 4-2 all-time versus the Ivy League

* The Panthers will play their second nationally-ranked opponent in a week when they face No. 17 Coastal Carolina on Friday