Sept. 20, 2006

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team took the lead twice against the University of Wisconsin, but had to settle for the 2-2 tie on Wednesday night. The Panthers (3-5-1) were looking for their first victory away from home this season, but the Badgers (4-3-1) scored late to force overtime.

Wisconsin tied the game with under five minutes to play, getting a goal on a header from Aaron Hohlbein at the 85:14 mark. The score came on a corner kick that Pablo Delgado played short to William Bagayoko. Bagayoko's serve found Hohlbein perfectly at the far post for the equalizer.

"I think again, that we have to look to set pieces," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "We gave up two set piece goals. They put pressure on us, we don't concentrate, we don't go out and put pressure on the ball, and they serve it in and a guy is free on the back post."

The Badgers carried the majority of play in the first overtime, getting numerous chances in their attacking third that the Panthers fended off before UW was able to record shot attempts. Milwaukee held the three-to-two edge in shots in the period, but two of those came on blocks on back-to-back plays.

"We had two good chances in overtime that both got blocked," Coleman said. "Those were two good, quality chances that we didn't capitalize on. And again, we didn't get any quality service in run of play which hurt us in the overtimes."

The only dangerous threat in the second overtime came with under a minute remaining, when Reid Johnson ripped a 25-yard shot that sophomore goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum stopped with just 55 seconds left on the clock.

Junior Chris Lins scored in the 54th minute to put UWM up 2-1 at the time. Lins redeemed himself with the goal, as he was the player that was whistled on the foul that gave Wisconsin the penalty kick that originally tied the game.

On the play, the Badgers B.J. Goodman sent a long serve to a streaking Eric Conklin, who Lins took down in the box. Fernstrum, who made a save on a penalty kick against the Badgers last season - guessed correctly on Zack Lambo's PK attempt, but just missed as UW tied the game at 1-1 at the 51:55 mark.

Just 1:26 later, Lins gave his team the lead back, heading home a perfect corner kick from sophomore Travis Phillips at the near post.

Junior Zeke Dombrowski opened up the scoring in the ninth minute. Dombrowski's goal came on a set piece after Hohlbein fouled senior Steve Sperl outside of the box. Mallace sent the free kick to the far post, where junior Steve Bode got a foot on it to center it back to the waiting Dombrowski, who headed home his first goal of the season.

At the half, both teams had recorded six shots. Besides the goal, the Panthers were unable to create many dangerous chances. Sperl had an opportunity in the 33rd minute, rifling a 25-yard shot wide of the goal on an open chance on a through ball from Mallace.

The large portion of the first was played in the midfield, with the Panthers in the attacking third more often than Wisconsin. The Badgers nearly tied the game in the 34th minute, but senior Billy Meier was there to clear the threat off the line for the team save.

In the end, UWM carried a 16-to-14 advantage in shots, while the Badgers had eight shots on target to five for Milwaukee. Wisconsin forced six corner kicks to three for the Panthers and were whistled for 23 of the 49 fouls.

The Panthers are off until Saturday, when they take on Florida International in Miami, Fla. Game time is set for 6 p.m. CST for the non-conference contest.