Oct. 7, 2005

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team scored two first half goals and used a total team defensive effort to claim a 2-0 victory over Wright State on the road in Horizon League action Friday evening. The Panthers (6-2-3, 2-1 Horizon) recorded their second-straight shutout on the season and ninth-consecutive victory over the Raiders (5-6-0, 1-1 Horizon) in the all-time series.

"We were all on the same page tonight," UWM head coach Louis Bennett said. "We are becoming a more effective team. We had a tactical plan coming in here and they did what we asked them to do."

Freshman goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum was at it again, making six saves in earning his second career shutout. He made two of those stops in the final eight-minutes, ten-seconds of the match to preserve the clean sheet.

In the 81st minute, Fernstrum stopped a header that Wright State's Jake Slemker put on a corner kick. He then made a leaping save to knock the ball up-and-over the back of the goal with 2:25 remaining on a 35-yard blast off the foot of Dana York.

"Grant was exceptional twice [on saves]," Bennett said. "And for a goalkeeper of his caliber, the rest of the saves were routine."

The defense played well all game, helping Fernstrum extend his scoreless streak to 212:44 in the past two-plus games. In 400 minutes of action so far this season, Fernstrum has not allowed a goal outside of two penalty kicks.

"It definitely was a team defensive effort with Grant as the catalyst," Bennett said. "We have to get back to playing the way we were designed to play. Even though we are looked at as an offensive team, we are a very well-organized defensive squad."

Milwaukee had just three shot attempts in the second half, but one of them very nearly made the final score 3-0. Sophomore Troy Spielmann just missed his first goal of the season in the 76th minute, sending a 25-yard blast from the top of the box off the crossbar.

The Panthers scored both of their goals in the first half, including one in the 40th minute to make it 2-0. Freshman Travis Phillips started the scoring play, collecting the ball at the sideline near midfield before sending a pass towards the goal. Junior Steve Sperl beat his defender to the ball and then beat Raider goalie Jason Balach who had come off his line to try and make a play on the ball. The goal was Sperl's team-leading fourth of the season.

Milwaukee got the eventual game-winner in the sixth minute. They received a free kick after a foul on sophomore Andre Francois in the corner of the field, nearly making it a corner kick situation. Junior Craig Mallace started the play with a well-placed serve. Junior Billy Meier went high over two defenders to get a head on it before sophomore captain Steve Bode was there to finish it in front of the box from six yards out. The goal was Bode's third of the season and first career game-winner. The Panthers were outshot six to three in the first half, but all three of their attempts were quality ones which they converted into two scores.

Out of the six first-half Wright State shots, two were on target but each was stopped. Fernstrum made a diving save as time expired in the first half on a 40-yard shot attempt by Tony Labudovski. He also made an exceptional diving stop in the 12th minute on an 18-yard blast from Paul-Anthony Perez, who fired the shot after collecting the ball off a deflection from a UWM defender.

The game was played under the lights in a steady mist, making the conditions a little less than perfect when the rain picked up.

"I think it affected the play overall," Bennett said. "The ball moved a lot faster. Some first-touches went a little astray and our assessment of what we could and could not do was a little skewed in the first half."

Overall, the Panthers were outshot 16 to six, including six to four in shots on goal. They attempted just one corner kick to the Raiders' seven, while each team was whistled for 15 fouls. Balach finished with two saves in defeat, with Fernstrum recording six to help keep Milwaukee's win streak in the series - which dates back to the 1999 season - running and now at nine. The Panthers have outscored Wright State 23-4 in that stretch.

The game was webcast on Wright State's website this evening and will be replayed again on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. central time. To view the game, head to www.wsuraiders.com, click on the men's soccer page and follow the teamline.com link and information.

The Panthers will continue their weekend of play with another Horizon League battle on Sunday. They will head to Indianapolis to play Butler, scheduled for a 1 p.m. start (central time).