Aug. 31, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MADISON, Wis. - Senior Zeke Dombrowski gave the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team a 1-0 lead in the second half, but the team could not hold on in falling to Western Michigan, 2-1, in the season opener for both teams Friday night in Madison.

Dombrowski put home a penalty kick at the 51:10 mark, scoring easily after junior Colin Baker was brought down in the box by a Western Michigan defender.

UWM could not hold the momentum, as the Broncos struck for the equalizer at the 52:19 mark and for the eventual game-winner less than 10 minutes later. Both goals came as a result of Milwaukee miscues.

"We made some silly mistakes that ended up costing us the game," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "And, at the same time, we missed some opportunities that really could have turned the game in a different way."

Jordan Fylonenko tied it after the Milwaukee defense was unable to clear a ball in back. The second goal came after miscommunication in front of the goal. Junior goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum came off his line to try and track down a loose ball in the box, only to see other defenders try and clear it. The ball ended up at the feet of Terry Dowding, who put it in the back of the net for the 2-1 advantage.

Milwaukee dominated the run of the game and the stat sheet, out-shooting the Broncos 13-to-six while also holding the six-to-three edge in corner kicks. The closest it got late in the game to sending the match to overtime was a blast from Baker that was saved in the 83rd minute and a dangerous loose ball in the box with 1:15 left that WMU cleared.

"Let's face it, soccer is a funny game," Coleman said. "We had clear-cut opportunities in the first half that could have changed the game. Then, we created problems for ourselves with careless mistakes. Credit Western Michigan, they are a hard-working, disciplined team. They were optimistic and took advantage of our mistakes and got the result."

The first half was spent mostly in the midfield and UWM's attacking third, but the Panthers were not able to covert on any of their numerous opportunities.

Freshman Elliott Dunn made a quick first impression after subbing into the game in the 16th minute. A cross from the endline by senior Martin Castro found Dunn alone by himself on the right side of the goal box. Dunn sent a blast to the left of the keeper, but WMU's Casey Aubil made a diving one-handed stop and trapped the ball against the ground to keep it at zeroes on the scoreboard.

Dunn had a chance again in the 29th minute, beating the defense to a long ball at the top of the 18-yard box. After making a move to get around the goalie, he was left with a tough angle for a shot and it went just wide left of the post.

Milwaukee had the run of play before intermission. In fact, the Broncos had possession of the ball in the penalty area just one time in the first 35 minutes. Their only dangerous chance came on a header off a free kick, but Fernstrum made the initial stop of the 10-yard shot and then corralled the rebound with about eight minutes remaining before halftime.

UWM nearly got on the scoreboard in the 41st minute, but Aubil was up to the task again. Senior Tenzin Rampa dribbled in from the sideline to the middle of the field before trying to catch the keeper off-guard with a 30-yard blast that was stopped with another diving save.

Milwaukee is back in action Sunday, returning to Madison for its second game in the Wisconsin Invitational. It will take on Tulsa, starting at noon.