Box Score |  Notes

SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 3, 2006) - Sophomore Beth Steuer scored her first collegiate goal and sophomore Erin Kane made five saves as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team defeated Washington, 2-0, Sunday, in the final game of the Husky Invitational.

Milwaukee (3-1) handed the Huskies (3-1) their first loss of the season in taking second place at an in-season tournament for the second-straight weekend.

"It's a big win for us, coming onto Washington's home field, with them having won three-straight," UWM head coach Michael Moynihan said. "I liked how we rebounded, coming off a tough loss Friday (against Portland). We did a nice job of putting them under pressure early."

Steuer's goal proved to be the game-winner, when she beat the UW keeper far post in the 63rd minute to make it 1-0. Junior Claire Pignet sent a long pass out of the Panther defensive end. Steuer ran onto the ball, beating a defender, and booted a shot from 10 yards out.

UWM's offensive efforts intensified after the game's first score, as it added an insurance goal in the 74th minute. Pignet was once again involved sending a deep free kick into the box. Freshman Kate Megna had her initial shot saved by the Huskies' Kelsey Rasmussen, who'd come off her line. Sophomore Bailey Briggs then came through and sent her rebound shot into the open net.

Briggs' tally capped an explosive couple of minutes where the Panthers had three separate scoring opportunities. Two minutes earlier, sophomore Jodi Klagos sent a through ball ahead to freshman Louise Vraney, who pushed her shot just wide of the net. In the next minute, freshman Erin Kreuser lofted a shot that was saved off the far post and then kicked wide again.

"After scoring we put together a flurry of chances and really put the pressure on them," Moynihan said. "It was encouraging. We learned from the Portland game not to just sit on a lead and that is something we can continue to work on that throughout the season."

Kane picked up her first shutout of the season and the 14th of her career, while the defense also pitched in with a team save.

The Huskies' best chance came in the 78th minute, when Shuree Hyatt had a 1v1 with Kane. Kane came off her line and made the save at point-blank range, before a second UW player got a shot off. Senior Taylor Powell sprinted towards the open goal, knocking the ball off the goal line with a sliding kick.

"Washington has some big, powerful forwards and a good attacking midfielder. I was happy with our ability to limit their scoring chances, another thing we were able to pick up from our game Friday," Moynihan said. "When Kane was called on, I thought she had some really nice saves."

The Panthers controlled the offensive momentum throughout the first half and for much of the rest of the game. They finished with the 19-10 advantage in shots, forcing Rasmussen to make five saves in the match. They also had the edge in corner kicks, 7-3.

In the 20th minute, sophomore Sarah Teegarden drew a foul just outside the 18-yard box near the endline. Junior Amanda Winn took the ensuing free kick and Klagos and Powell each had shots blocked inside the box before the Huskies were able to clear the ball to safety in Milwaukee's best scoring chance of the opening frame.

Powell also had a rebound blast saved in the ninth minute and senior Molly Duffy headed a ball over the crossbar just before halftime.

UWM returns to action next weekend (Sept. 8-10) at the Hoosier Classic in Bloomington, Ind. The Panthers open the tournament with Rhode Island Friday, before taking on host Indiana Sunday.