Oct. 15, 2006

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Seniors Craig Mallace and Billy Meier provided the scoring as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team picked up a 2-1 victory over Cleveland State on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers (6-8-2, 2-2-1 Horizon) improve to 3-0-1 in their last four games and also extend their head-to-head win streak over the Vikings (4-9-2, 1-4-0 Horizon) to 17-straight with the win.

Milwaukee scored both of its goals in an 11-minute stretch early in the game. Mallace struck in the seventh minute, bending a 25-yard free kick around the wall and into the left corner of the goal. Meier followed in the 18th minute, heading home a long serve to give UWM the 2-0 lead.

"I think this game was just what we were looking for," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "I was hoping that maybe [senior Steve] Sperl would tuck one in there and put the cap on it - put the trio together."

It wasn't for a lack of effort on Sperl's part. He ended the contest with a game-high 10 shot attempts, including several from close range that just missed or were blocked.

In the 22nd minute, he had a chance on a breakaway, but Kasey Gray was up to the task on the 12-yard blast with a nice diving save. In the 60th minute, Sperl rifled a full volley off a nice centering pass from freshman Nicholas Gerard-Larson just left of the post.

The final score was not indicative of what the result could have been, as UWM dominated the game, outshooting the Vikings 32-to-nine in the game - including 21-to-five in the second half. The only thing that prevented the shutout was a fluke goal with two seconds left when the referee stopped the clock so Cleveland State could set up for a free kick on what turned out to be its only shot on goal of the game.

"We're definitely starting to put some games together ... starting to put some good performances together," Coleman said. "It was a good way for the seniors to go out. They did a fantastic job."

Mallace was actually the player that was fouled to set up the first goal. After a yellow card was issued to CSU's Eric Tattersall, Mallace bent the free kick into the upper left corner of the goal, freezing the Viking keeper to make it 1-0.

The second score came on a second phase attack following a corner kick. Sophomore Travis Phillips had the ball come right back to his feet after the corner, and then sent a perfect serve to the far post where Meier was waiting to head it home.

The Panther offense came oh-so-close on numerous occasions, including shots off the cross bar and post by junior Zeke Dombrowski in the 62nd minute and junior Dan Horst in the 69th minute.

The defense played well, especially in the second. They held the Vikings without a shot attempt for the first 28:39 after halftime and none of the other eight attempts in the game for CSU proved dangerous.

Sophomore Ryan Germann made his second-straight start in goal for UWM and recorded the victory. Although he did not officially record a save, he did record another 88:39 of scoreless time in goal. Gray finished with eight saves for Cleveland State.

The Panthers continue the homestand with yet another big game, hosting UW-Green Bay on Wednesday night. Not only is the game an important one in the standings, but is played for the Chancellor's Cup traveling trophy and sees Green Bay come into the match in first place in the league standings. Game time is set for 7 p.m.