Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Oct. 21, 2007) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team clinched its eighth-straight Horizon League regular season championship with a 2-0 win over Wright State Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Field.

The Panthers (11-3-3) finished their league season at 7-0-1 and extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games (8-0-3). The Raiders (11-4-1, 4-1-1 Horizon), meanwhile, had been the only other unbeaten team in league play.

"It's great to win the league championship. It puts us in the position of hosting the league tournament again," Milwaukee head coach Michael Moynihan said. "I talked to the team afterwards and highlighted that the senior class has never lost a conference game (27-0-2). That shows something about maturity because that is a difficult thing for any team to do.

"We have the second-longest (championship) streak in the nation. I think that says a lot about our program as far as being well-established, but also a lot about the individuals and the maturity they've shown."

Junior Erin Kane made two saves for her school record-tying 36th career win, while she broke the school record for career minutes by a goalkeeper in the second minute and has now played 5,442:41 in a Panther uniform.

"She has been phenomenal. There are things that the stats don't even show, like the quality of the saves she's had this year," Moynihan said on Kane. "I think last year she may have had some more shutouts at this point in the year, but with the uncertainties early with our defense, being so young, she's had a lot of work to do. She has kept in so many games this year. We know that if our defense falters, she is there."

Sophomore Kate Megna scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 22nd minute, knocking a loose ball into the net from five yards out. Sophomore Erin Kreuser got the play started, dribbling in on the goal from the endline and chipping the keeper, who had come off her line. Two Wright State defenders cleared the ball off the line, but Megna came down with the loose ball and knocked it into the net.

After playing fairly even in the opening minutes of the half, Milwaukee took control of the match and generated a number of chances in the opening frame. Megna sent a corner into the box in the 11th minute, but freshman Erin DeYoung's header was stopped by WSU keeper Meghan Hackerson and cleared away by a defender.

Six minutes later, Megna rocketed a shot from the far corner of the penalty area, but Hackerson made a sprawling save to push the shot wide of the net.

"The theme for us on offense has been persistence," Moynihan said. "We've created a lot of chances. In training the bulk of our emphasis has been on finishing, in all different type of scenarios. You work on it every day, you have to believe it's going to pay off, and it has."

In the second half, the Panthers kept the pressure on and carried the momentum throughout the frame. Senior Pam Shipway had a chance to add an insurance goal in the 64th minute, dribbling into the box from the far side and hitting a shot just wide of the goal.

Shipway then assisted on UWM's second goal of the match in the 70th minute. Junior Beth Steuer beat a defender to the corner and brought the ball into the box with a cross. The ball bounced around in the penalty area before landing at Shipway's feet on the other side of the box. She sent it back into the box and junior Sarah Teegarden finished from eight yards to make it 2-0.

The Panther back line got stronger as the game went on, allowing just one Raider shot in the second period, and limiting the league's most prolific offense (2.07 goals per game) to just five shots on the day. Milwaukee finished with 20 shots, 10 in each half, and a substantial 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.

"I was very pleased with our defense. We've gotten to the healthiest we've been all season. Louise Vraney is close to getting back. She was our leading scorer last season last season, but hasn't played as much because of injuries," Moynihan said. "When she gets back, we'll have all the pieces from last year that contributed and the addition of other players. Erin DeYoung has played well as an outside back. She went the distance today and was very solid. Claire Watkins is another freshman starting back there for us."

Hackerson made six saves for the Raiders.

Milwaukee closes out the regular season next Friday (Oct. 26) at No. 3 Texas A&M. The Panthers and Aggies kick off at 7:30 p.m. in College Station, Texas.