Oct. 8, 2006

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team rallied from behind to take a 2-1 lead on Sunday afternoon against Butler, but could not hold on in playing to a 2-2 tie. The Panthers (4-8-2, 1-2-1 Horizon) extended their undefeated streak over the Bulldogs (4-7-2, 1-3-1 Horizon) to eight games (7-0-1) with the draw.

"Overall we were disappointed," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "On our home field we want to win games and we need wins right now - we don't need ties. We need to win games and I think we let one slip away today."

Sophomore Colin Baker gave the Panthers the 2-1 lead in the 53rd minute with his team-leading fourth goal of the season. On the play, senior Craig Mallace played a ball into the box where junior Troy Spielmann was able to get a shot attempt off. Spielmann's shot was blocked while the Butler goalkeeper had come off his line, allowing Baker to finish easily at the 52:50 mark.

The Bulldogs tied it in the 66th minute when John DeVae tallied his second goal of the game. DeVae was in the right place at the right time, corralling a loose ball in the box and sneaking one inside the near post from eight yards out to knot the score.

"We fought hard to get back into the game and then we fought hard to take the lead," Coleman said. "We kind of got lackadaisical in the back and let them squeak one in."

Opportunities were scarce in the overtime sessions, with neither team even recording a shot attempt in the first 10-minute period.

In the second overtime, Butler's Eduardo Garcia sent a close-range header wide off a corner kick and Danny Akl slid one just left of the post on a break in the 107th minute.

UWM had a couple of chances to net the winner in regulation. Mallace had a 35-yarder on a break saved; junior Tenzin Rampa was unable to track down a serve on a breakaway in the 83rd minute and senior Steve Sperl had his close range shot off a long throw in blocked in the 84th minute.

The defense gave up just four shots on goal, but allowed two to find the net. DeVae broke open the scoring in the game in the 11th minute, taking a ball near midfield and carrying it into the box before making some crossover moves to get open.

The Panthers found the equalizer in the 38th minute on a set-piece goal. After a foul, Mallace sent a 40-yard free kick to the far post. Junior Zeke Dombrowski got a head on it to flick it back across the mouth of the goal where junior Chris Lins finished with a header to the upper right corner of the net.

Credit senior Billy Meier for keeping the game tied with his play in the 73rd minute. On a UWM back-pass, Meier, sophomore goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum and the Bulldog's Dorshon Deans all converged on it, with Deans getting a shot off that was headed for the goal. Meier was able to chase it down, heading the bouncing ball of the line just before it went in.

Fernstrum took the brunt of the collision and was down on the field for well over five minutes before staying in the game.

In the end, the Panthers held the 15-to-11 edge in shots, with both teams finishing with four on goal. UWM forced six corner kicks to four for Butler, while the Bulldogs were whistled for 30 of the 53 fouls in the physical game.

Milwaukee returns to the field on Friday, hosting Big Ten foe Michigan under the lights at Engelmann Field. Game time for the Panthers and Wolverines is set for 7 p.m.