Sept. 8, 2006

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MADISON, Wis. - Michael Kraus scored in the 87th minute, helping Creighton escape with a 1-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team on Friday at the Wisconsin Badger Invitational. The Panthers (2-3-0) outshot the Bluejays (2-2-1) by an 11-to-7 count, but saw their two-game win streak come to an end.

"That was a real tough one to lose," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "We didn't finish our opportunities on defensive set pieces, on attacking set pieces or on flow of the game. We just didn't finish and put the exclamation point on things."

The game-winner came off a long free kick from the sideline, when Pietari Holopainen found Kraus just outside the goal box at the far post at the 86:26 mark. Milwaukee pushed forward in the final minutes, but was unable to get a shot attempt off before the match ended.

Sophomore goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum played well in defeat, collecting numerous loose balls and crosses while finishing with one save. He kept Creighton off the scoreboard on its only other dangerous opportunity in the second half, stopping a 15-yard blast with a diving stop after a UWM turnover in back.

The Panthers nearly broke the scoreless deadlock twice in the first two minutes of the second half. Junior Zeke Dombrowski collected a loose ball from the top of the box but had his shot attempt saved. It was Dombrowski again a minute later, putting a header off a free kick towards the goal, but it went just high.

"You have to give the effort to the guys," Coleman said. "We played some good ball. We are a good team, but we can't be a great team until our players step up and play big and we finish our opportunities and we're not careless on defensive set pieces."

The first half was a back-and-forth affair in which neither team established much of an offensive flow. The first shot attempt of the match did not come until the 12th minute, with UWM not recording a shot until the 21st minute.

The only shots on goal in the period were recorded by UWM. In the 22nd minute, the Bluejays were called for a hand ball 25 yards from the goal. Senior Craig Mallace put the free kick around the wall and on target, but was saved by Bluejay keeper Matt Allen.

The Panthers had another chance in the 41st minute when juniors Troy Spielmann and Andre Francois combined for a nice give-and-go from the top of the penalty box. Sperlmann's 25-yard blast to the near post was again saved to keep the game scoreless.

The only dangerous opportunity that Milwaukee allowed Creighton in the first half occurred in the 31st minute. Fernstrum came off his line to clear crossing pass, but the ball remained in the box. After a flurry in front, Tim Bohnenkamp fired a shot up and over the crossbar.

Milwaukee has a day off before returning to Madison on Sunday. They will finish play in the tournament with a match-up against the Washington Huskies, currently ranked No. 6 in the country. Game time is set for a noon start.