Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Aug. 31, 2007) - Sophomore Louise Vraney and freshman Sarah Talbert each scored goals to pace the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team to a 3-0 win over Indiana State, Friday evening at Engelmann Field.

The game the first game of the 2007 Milwaukee Cup and was the season-opener for both teams.

"It was a nice way to start the year with a comfortable win at home," Milwaukee head coach Michael Moynihan said. "We could have been more dangerous off our corners, but the way we moved the ball was attractive. We just need a harder edge when it comes to finishing."

Milwaukee also got an own goal to account for the final tally.

Vraney got the scoring started late in the first half, heading a ball past ISU keeper Rachel Rudzis. Sophomore Kayla DeJardin started the play sending a ball into the box outside the far post. Sophomore Kate Megna timed the ball and sent a header to the middle of the box, where Vraney finished in the 41st minute.

Coming out of halftime with a 1-0 lead, the Panthers were relentless on offense. They made it a 2-0 game in the 58th minute when a low, rolling Megna corner kick was deflected into the goal by a Sycamore defender for an own goal. Talbert then made it 3-0 in the 75th minute with a header off a corner kick from senior Claire Pignet.

UWM controlled possession throughout the match, picking it up in the second half with heavy pressure in the Sycamore zone. The Panthers outshot Indiana State 30-7 for the game, including 18-5 in the second half. The home squad also forced 14 corner kicks, leading to a pair of scores, while conceding none on the other end.

"Tonight we just lacked the edge in the finishing third," Moynihan said. "With the amount of shots we had, we should have had more goals. At times we were complacent with keeping possession and we need to have more attitude in the attacking third."

Freshman Nicole Sperl had nine of Milwaukee's shots, including a ball off the near post in the 36th minute and a blast from 35 yards that hit off the cross bar in the 43rd minute. Sophomore Erin Kreuser also took six shots in the game, forcing Rudzis to make saves on five of them.

The Panther defense, which was somewhat of a question mark entering the season, held fast and did not allow many opportunities to the Sycamores. Eight different players saw action on the back line, which lost both starting central defenders to graduation last season.

"We got a lot of people in to the game tonight to get them tested," Moynihan said. "Every game will be a building process back there. We looked okay back there, but there is room to grow. But, it's always nice to get a shutout."

Goalkeeper Erin Kane was called on to make just three saves on the night, including a point-blank save in the 79th minute to preserve her 27th career shutout. That save came after Lauren Podolski hit the cross bar from 30 yards out and an ISU player attempted to head in the rebound from six yards out.

Rudzis finished the match with 12 saves for Indiana State.

The Panthers return to action on the final day of the Milwaukee Cup, hosting Washington Sunday at Engelmann Field. Kick off is scheduled for 1 p.m. With a win against the Huskies, UWM could be in position for its first Milwaukee Cup title in the eighth year of the tourney.