Oct. 2, 2005

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - The University of Detroit-Mercy scored a late goal to upend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team 2-1 on Sunday at Engelmann Field. The Panthers (4-2-3, 1-1 Horizon) outshot Detroit (5-3-2, 3-1 Horizon) 16 to nine in the game but were unable to put more than one goal on the scoreboard, falling in a Horizon League game at home for the first time in nearly five years.

"We were the `almost' team today," UWM head coach Louis Bennett said. "The statistics tell the story: 16 shots to nine, eight saves to one...we `almost' did things right. We had chances and did not finish them."

The Titans came up with the game-winner at the 83:32 mark of the game when Jason Massoglia put in a 15-yard header off a 20-yard serve. The shot was just the third of the game to be on target, but was enough for Detroit to escape with the victory.

The Panthers pushed forward in the final five minutes but could only get one shot on goal. Senior Neil Dombrowski fired a 20-yard shot from the top of the box in the 88th minute, but Detroit goalkeeper Sasha Boskovic was there with the final stop of his eight-save outing. Milwaukee nearly had one last chance in the closing seconds. After a foul was called on the Titans, time ran out before UWM could set up for a final 35-yard free kick.

"In the last four games we've scored very few goals and we've not finished chances," Bennett said. "We've had the chances, we've had corners...you name it. We have had all the right ingredients to make a goal and to win games and today we didn't do it."

In a contest between two teams well-known for their defense, it was the offense that made their showing first, combining for two goals in the first 8:43 of the match.

Detroit started the scoring in the fourth minute, when Aaron Smith put in a header off a 25-yard free kick after a UWM foul.

The Panthers responded quickly, netting the equalizer five-minutes, 17-seconds later. After the Titans had cleared the initial surge to midfield, junior Craig Mallace ran down the ball and sent a 30-yard serve towards the goal. Junior teammate Steve Sperl was there to settle it at the top of the penalty area and then turned and fired a shot over the outstretched diving arms of Boskovic to make it 1-1 on the scoreboard.

The Panthers continued to control the midfield after the goal, while their offense was persistent in producing chances: Sperl narrowly missed a diving header in the 30th minute. Boskovic made a save on a 25-yard free kick in the 34th minute.

He also made a stellar stop on a Neil Dombrowski attempt minutes later. Sophomore Garrett McCabe started the play with a serve to the goal box from the left side. Sperl one-touched it to Dombrowski who sent the eight-yard shot on goal. Boskovic was in the right place at the right time for the save to keep the score tied going into halftime.

Milwaukee came out the aggressor in the second half. They outshot the Titans 7-3 in the first 20 minutes of play, yet still were unable to finish their opportunities.

"I am hugely disappointed about how we executed," Bennett said. "That is not a characteristic of teams that we have. But we are almost there now. Unfortunately, almost isn't going to get it done."

The defeat snaps what was an eight-game winning streak the Panthers had in the series. The last time Detroit beat UWM was Sept. 21, 1997 when they posted a 2-1 victory. It ended another long streak as well. The Panthers had not lost a Horizon League regular season game at home since falling 3-2 in overtime to Loyola on Oct. 8, 2000 - a span of just under five years.

For the game, Milwaukee had the edge in most box score categories. They held the shot advantage 16 to nine and the corner kick lead six to two. The game had 37 fouls whistled (19 on the Panthers) and three yellow cards, all called on Detroit. Boskovic finished with eight saves for the win, while junior goalkeeper Eric Mickschl had one save in defeat for Milwaukee.

The team will take a quick break from Horizon League action on Tuesday, as they are set to host Wisconsin at Engelmann Field. Game time against the Badgers is set for 3 p.m.