Sept. 13, 2005

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team scored three goals in the second half on Tuesday afternoon to claim a 3-2 victory over Bradley University at Engelmann Field. The three scores came in a span of 11-minutes, 36-seconds and included two from junior Steve Sperl. The victory improves the Panthers record to 3-1-1 on the season and also snaps what was an eight-game road unbeaten streak that Bradley, now 3-2-0, brought into today's match.

"To rebound at halftime and win after playing for the third time in five days is really great," associate head coach Stan Anderson said. "It says a lot about the character of this team and how we responded at halftime."

Anderson and assistant coach Jon Coleman took over coaching duties today for UWM head coach Louis Bennett, who was not on the sidelines due to the red card he received in Sunday's game against Fairleigh Dickinson. They didn't let Bennett down, helping lead the Panthers to three goals against a Bradley team that had allowed just one goal and only 11 total shots on net in their first four games of the season.

Trailing 1-0 well into the second half, Milwaukee's offensive attack finally found the back of the net. The first UWM goal of the game was Sperl's first of the season, coming on a header in the 63rd minute.

Senior Neil Dombrowski started the play with a through ball from midfield to a streaking Dale Weiler in the corner. Weiler made a move on the first defender, who knocked the ball towards the sideline. Junior Craig Mallace was there to send a 30-yard serve to the goal box that Sperl knocked past Bradley goalkeeper Chris Dunsheath.

Sperl wasn't done there, adding his second marker less than five minutes later. He took a pass from freshman Adam Skalecki at the top of the 18-yard box and turned and blasted a shot to the back of the net to make it 2-1.

The eventual game-winner came in the 74th minute. After a turnover in the Bradley back, sophomore Tenzin Rampa served a ball to the far post that Weiler went up and headed past Dunsheath to give Milwaukee their third unanswered goal and a 3-1 advantage.

Bradley responded with a late goal in the 85th minute to make it 3-2, but the Panthers defense stiffened from there. They did not allow the Braves a shot in the final 5:37, clearing away the last couple of opportunities that Bradley had in the final minute of the match.

The first half was a struggle for Milwaukee. They outshot Bradley nine to four in the period, but couldn't get anything going, putting just two shots on goal. The Braves broke through for a goal at the 6:52 mark, and took that lead into halftime.

"Quite honestly, we didn't recognize ourselves in the first half," Anderson said. "Coach Coleman really got into the guys and challenged them at halftime. As a former player, he recognizes the tradition and history that is here. The guys responded to that and I give him a lot of credit for that."

The team came out firing in the second, getting 10 shots in the period. They continued to build on the momentum of each goal they scored and were sparked as well by the play of sophomore Ken Ogorzalek, who entered the game at the start of the second period.

"Ken provided a big-time spark," Anderson said. "He is a guy who works hard every single day. Every day. And it hasn't been rewarded in minutes...today it was. He gave us the pulse that we needed. The guys recognized it, the coaches recognized it, and the crowd did too."

UWM dominated the stat sheet, ending the match with a 19-8 edge on the shot chart, including an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal. They also came away with all nine corner kicks in the game. Junior goalkeeper Eric Mickschl played well in goal, making two saves. A team save helped him out as well, as sophomore Steve Bode cleared a shot by Bradley's Zach Bell in the 69th minute. Dunsheath finished with five saves in the loss. The Panthers ended his scoreless streak in goal at 269:40 with their first tally of the match.

"Today was a challenge," Anderson said. "Bradley is a very good, well-coached team that will do very well in their league and on the national level."

After playing three games in the past five days, UWM hits a well-deserved break in their schedule. They will not play a game against an NCAA opponent until Sept. 23, when they take on Oregon State in the first game in the Gonzaga Invitational in Spokane, Wash. They will, however, host the annual Alumni Game this Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. at Engelmann Field.