Oct. 28, 2006

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Sophomore Travis Phillips scored a goal late in the first half to get the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team within one on the scoreboard, but that was as close as it would get, falling 2-1 to Butler in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament on Saturday night. The Bulldogs (7-10-2) snapped the Panthers (8-9-2) six-game unbeaten streak and ended their season in the league tournament for the first time in six years.

Butler scored twice in less than three minutes near the start of the game to take the early momentum, but Phillips goal in the 40th minute cut the deficit to 2-1 and swung the game back in Milwaukee's favor going into halftime. The Panthers outshot the Bulldogs 10-to-four in the second half, but could not find the equalizer.

"We had a lot of momentum going into this game," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "Obviously, we dug a hole too deep that we couldn't get out of. The opportunities for us were still there, we were just not able to take advantage of them."

The loss is the first for Milwaukee in the Horizon League Tournament since a 2001 defeat at the hands of Butler in the league championship. The team had won its past 12-straight in the event.

"Give credit to Butler," Coleman said. "They came in here and they wanted to battle, wanted to fight and make it difficult and they did just that."

The Bulldogs came out and scored early, getting a goal in the 10th minute after a turnover in back. BU's David Giarratana fired a 25-yard shot on goal and got a fortunate break. UWM sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Germann was in line to make the save, but could only get a hand on it before it found the back of the net.

Butler then added to the hole UWM was in when it scored just 2:42 later, getting a header from Aaron Thompson off service from a short corner kick to make it 2-0.

The Panthers kept battling, finally breaking through in the 40th minute. After a Bulldog foul, senior Craig Mallace sent a free kick to the far post. Senior Billy Meier controlled it and sent a centering pass to Phillips at the top of the box. Phillips rifled a shot to the top right of the goal for his first career score to cut the lead in half.

Milwaukee pressed most of the second half, taking 10 shots to just four for Butler. The team came close in the final minutes, nearly tying the game on a header by junior Dan Horst with less than six minutes left. His header appeared to sneak in at first, but went just high. UWM had one final corner kick in the 89th minute, but Frank Peabody was able to step out and make the stop of the serve and clear the threat and end Milwaukee's quest for its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

For the game, UWM owned a 13-to-11 advantage in shots, with Butler the seven-to-three edge in shots on goal. Both teams had three corner kicks while the Panthers were whistled for 18 of the 34 fouls.