Sept. 29, 2005

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Senior Neil Dombrowski scored the only goal of the game to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team over Cleveland State 1-0 on Thursday night at Krenzler Field. The Panthers (4-1-3; 1-0) open the Horizon League regular season schedule at 1-0 for the seventh-straight season in extending their head to head win streak over the Vikings (0-7-1; 0-2) to 16 consecutive.

"We had a lot of wonderful opportunities that we squandered in the match," UWM head coach Louis Bennett said. "But a league win is a league win...we had to be at our best tonight and we were."

The lone goal came in the 36th minute from Neil Dombrowski, his team-leading third of the season. Dombrowski subbed into the game in the 22nd minute and sparked the team immediately. He took three shots on goal in his first 14 minutes of action, connecting on a right-footed blast from the top of the box before the defense had a chance to react on a second phase attack.

That was enough for junior goalkeeper Eric Mickschl, who made two saves in posting his second shutout of the season. Mickschl lowered his GAA to 1.28 on the season with his eighth career clean sheet.

The Panthers outshot the Vikings 18 to nine in the game, including 10 to three in the first half. They peppered CSU goalie Anthony DeMarco with 14 shots on goal, with DeMarco making it a game with a career-high 13 saves.

"We did miss a few easy opportunities, but their goalie kept them in the game," Bennett said. "He played very well tonight."

The Panther defense was at it again, not allowing a shot on goal until the 79:05 mark of the game and finishing with just two shots on target by Cleveland State in the match. That brings the total shots on goal they have allowed in the past three games - 310 minutes of action - to just four.

They stiffened when they had to, including in the 80th minute when the Vikings finally broke through for their first shot on goal. The Panthers fended off four shots and a corner kick in a three-minute span to put the game away.

The victory comes in UWM's Horizon League regular season opener and improves their record to 19-1 in the past 20 games against Cleveland State. They have claimed the past four regular season titles, setting a new standard with their fourth a season ago.

Milwaukee led the way in two other categories on the box score, forcing a four to two advantage in corner kicks and holding the 17-13 edge in fouls.

The Panthers continue Horizon League action on Sunday, hosting Detroit at Engelmann Field. The game against the Titans is set for a noon start.