Oct. 18, 2007

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Michael Ferguson scored his league-leading 13th goal of the season to lead Loyola University to a 1-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team on Senior Night at Engelmann Field Thursday. The Panthers (4-9-2, 4-1-1 Horizon) see their six-game unbeaten streak come to an end with the loss to the Ramblers (8-3-3, 4-0-2 Horizon).

"We just kind of let one slip away tonight," UWM head coach Jon Coleman. "But, we still have two more games to look forward to and have everything to play for."

Milwaukee was the aggressor in the second half, outshooting Loyola, seven-to-two, after intermission and forcing six corner kicks. The Panthers had two solid chances in a two-minute span late in the game, but could not find the back of the net.

In the 71st minute, senior Steve Bode headed a corner kick at the net, but it slid just high. Less than two minutes later, junior Colin Baker chipped a lead pass towards the net, where senior Zeke Dombrowski and a defender both went up for the ball just outside the goal box. Despite plenty of contact, Dombrowski was able to get a head on it, but his attempt also just missed.

After falling behind in the first half, the Panthers thought they had tied the game in the 39th minute. Dombrowski headed a perfectly-placed corner kick from junior Adam Skalecki into the back of the net. But, to the dismay of the home crowd, the goal was wiped out by a foul called just before the goal was scored.

Ferguson continues to be a one-man show for the Ramblers, scoring Loyola's fifth-consecutive goal over the past three games at the 21:44 mark. He controlled the ball near the end line, made a move around two UWM defenders to create some space for the shot and rifled one over the shoulder of junior Ryan Germann for the game-winner.

"The game plan was to stop nine (Ferguson) and put us in a position to win the game," Coleman said. "He was able to squeak in and score and took advantage of his only opportunity."

In addition to the shot edge, Milwaukee also had more on target, by a count of four-to-three. The Panthers were also whistled for 16 of the 31 fouls in the match and forced seven of the game's 10 corner kicks. Germann ended with two saves in defeat, while LU's Brian Byrne made four saves for his eighth shutout of the season.

With Green Bay defeating UIC, 1-0, Thursday, it creates quite a logjam at the top of the league standings, with UWGB and Loyola at 4-0-2 and UWM right behind at 4-1-1. The final two games of the league schedule (against UIC Sunday and Green Bay Oct. 27) will not get any bigger for Milwaukee.

"I think we got it out of our system and we just need to take better care of details," Coleman said. "But, there is no doubt that this team has the potential to win the Horizon League. Loyola is a good team as well - we have to give them credit. We just have to tighten things up in some areas."

The Panthers are off until Sunday, when they head to Chicago for the big showdown with two-time defending regular season champion UIC. The Flames and Panthers are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at Flames Field.