Oct. 10, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Junior goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum made a career-high 11 saves to help lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team to a 1-1 tie against the University of Wisconsin Wednesday night. The Panthers (2-8-2) run their unbeaten streak to four games with the tie against the Badgers (5-4-3).

"Grant Fernstrum stepped in and did a fantastic job when called upon," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "He played exceptionally well tonight and, outside of the penalty kick, he kept a clean sheet. He made some great saves to keep it level and the big thing is, right now, we are unbeaten in our last four games and that is great momentum going into Friday."

Fernstrum's 11 saves included many impressive stops, with the only goal allowed coming on a penalty kick by Sho Fujita in the 61st minute after a Milwaukee defender tripped up Brandon Miller at the top of the box. UWM found the equalizer quickly, hitting the back of the net at the 68:37 mark to tie it up.

After a hand ball was called on the Badgers, senior Zeke Dombrowski took a 30-yard free kick, sending it low on the ground around the wall to junior Colin Baker, who was streaking into the goal box. Baker timed it perfectly, with his eight-yard shot beating the keeper for his second goal of the season.

"We showed some resilience and I think that is the big thing right now that has helped this team turn the corner," Coleman said. "It's staying positive, taking it play by play. We scored on a brilliant set piece. Credit Zeke for the pass and Baker for burying it."

The teams combined for seven shots in the overtime periods, with Wisconsin sending three of its five on goal. Fernstrum came up big just 1:47 into the first OT, making a diving stop at the post on a breakaway shot from Victor Diaz.

He made the save of the game with just 49 seconds left in the second extra period, stopping a six-yard, point-blank shot by Brandon Miller. The Panthers also caught a lucky break with just 19 seconds left, when Andy Miller's shot hit the cross bar.

Fernstrum also came up big to send it to extra time, stopping another close-range shot by Aaron Nichols off a well-placed cross with less than six minutes remaining in the match.

UWM nearly won it in regulation, but Wisconsin defender B.J. Goodman saved the day for the Badgers. After a long free kick from freshman Raphael Martinez caromed back out of the box, junior Travis Phillips ripped a shot that made it past UW keeper Alex Horwath, only to see Goodman clear it off the line.

Wisconsin won the stat sheet, outshooting the Panthers, 21-11, and forcing six corner kicks to just one for UWM. The hard-fought match saw 36 fouls called, with 27 on Milwaukee. There were also eight cards issued, including two red cards.

Fernstrum's 11 saves topped his previous career-best of nine that he made against #2 SMU August 27th of last season. Horwath was credited with two saves for UW.

The Panthers head into a big weekend of Horizon League play, hosting Detroit and Cleveland State. Friday's game against the Titans starts at 7 p.m. under the lights at Engelmann Field.