Oct. 19, 2006

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MILWAUKEE - Junior Dan Horst scored just one minute and four seconds after subbing into the game to give the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Thursday afternoon. The Panthers (7-8-2, 3-2-1 Horizon) not only gave the Phoenix (11-4-0, 5-1-0 Horizon) their first loss in Horizon League action, but extended their undefeated streak to five games (4-0-1) and reclaimed the Chancellor's Cup.

Horst subbed in at the 34:31 mark and then found himself with the ball in the box after a cross from junior Martin Castro was deflected near his feet. He buried the opportunity, sending a shot to the near post and past UWGB's Josh Loyd for the only goal of the game at the 35:35 mark.

"You have to give a lot of credit to Dan Horst," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "He made the most of his opportunities when he came in. A lot of people said `great sub' when he came in but I give the credit to Danny. He fought really hard and he stepped up and did a great job."

The Milwaukee defense did the rest, resulting in the team's fifth shutout of the season and third in the past five games. Not only did the Phoenix come into the game ranked seventh in the NSCAA regional poll, but they are fourth in the nation at 2.57 goals per game, with Joshua Okoampa the fifth-highest scorer (32 points) in the NCAA as well.

The Panthers limited the potent Green Bay offense to just 10 total shots, with Okoampa recording two of them - a harmless header in the 53rd minute and a shot from the top of the box that was blocked in traffic in the 79th minute.

"Right now our back four is playing fantastic soccer," Coleman said. "We have gone up against some of the top forwards in the country. Josh is a great player, but defensively our back four is sound."

The win also gave the Panthers back the Chancellor's Cup, the traveling trophy that goes to the winner in this head-to-head series. UWM had lost possession for the first time since the 1998 season last year when it dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker in overtime.

Green Bay nearly got on the board in the seventh minute, but sophomore Ryan Germann - making his third-straight start - was there for the first of his seven saves in the game. Dan O'Brien took a nice feed from Tosaint Ricketts at the top of the 18-yard box and sent a shot to the far post. Germann made a diving save to push it wide and keep the game scoreless.

The Panthers came within inches of adding two insurance goals in the game. Junior Tenzin Rampa sent a one-timer from the flank of the box off the crossbar in the 23rd minute, while senior Craig Mallace turned a breakaway opportunity into a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper in the 63rd minute, sending a shot over the keeper's head but off the far post.

Germann played very well once again, winning his third-straight start. He made another game-saving stop in the 52nd minute, getting just enough of a hand on a blast from Ricketts to push a shot attempt wide. Ricketts had gotten behind the defense after a turnover for the breakaway opportunity.

"In three games he has not been scored on," Coleman said. "He's playing big, he's playing smart, he's made the big save when he's needed to make the big save and he has stepped it up."

For the game, the Panthers ended with a 15-to-10 edge in shots, while UWGB had the eight-to-five advantage in shots on target. The Panthers dominated the corner kick count, 12-to-two, and was whistled for 15 of the 34 fouls called in the game.

Milwaukee closes the regular season on Sunday, when it travels to Chicago, Ill., to take on Loyola. The Ramblers are currently 4-1 in league play and just ahead of UWM in the standings. Game time is set for 3 p.m.