Sept. 14, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Senior Tenzin Rampa sent a final shot off the cross bar in the closing seconds, helping Drake University escape with a 2-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team on Friday night at the Panther Invitational. The Bulldogs (3-2) overcame a 1-0 deficit in giving the Panthers (0-5) a tough loss in their home opener at Engelmann Field.

Rampa sent a 25-yard shot from the right side of the penalty area on goal with just 10 seconds remaining in the match. It made it over the head of the Drake goalkeeper, but caught just enough of the cross bar to prevent it from finding the back of the net and sending the game to overtime.

"We just didn't take care of business tonight," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "I don't like losing at all, but losing at home makes it worse. We need to bring the same level of emotion to make sure that we are ready to get after it right away. We can't wait until the last 10 seconds - it has to come right from the word `go'."

The Panthers pressed forward in the final minutes to try and find the equalizer and did come up with some quality chances. In addition to Rampa's shot, senior Zeke Dombrowski nearly tied the game in the 86th minute on a free kick, only to see Drake goalkeeper Phillip Breuer make a diving one-handed save of the blast at the post. The rebound came to Rampa who also had a shot, but the tough angle provided no real chance.

After the Wisconsin Badgers opened the Panther Invitational with a 1-0 victory over No. 20 Gonzaga, UWM came out in front of the first home crowd of the season and jumped on the board in the 10th minute.

Rampa was at the start of this play as well, taking a long pass into the penalty area and down to the end line on the right side of the goal. His centering pass found the front of the goal, where freshman Robert Refai and junior Colin Baker were waiting for it. Both got a touch on the ball, with Refai recording the assist and Baker the goal.

"It was a great atmosphere out there," Coleman said. "But, tonight we just didn't come out with the killer instinct right from the word go. We hit a lull. But it was a great turnout tonight - it was great to see the fans and great to be back on Engelmann."

UWM won the stat sheet once again, outshooting Drake 15-to-10 and forcing four corner kicks to just one for the Bulldogs, but find themselves at 0-5 for the first time since ever.

With the Panthers leading 1-0, Drake broke through for its first goal in the 24th minute. A Bulldog defender got a piece of a clearing pass in back, sending it right to Nick Foster at the top of the box. Foster dribbled with it and sent a shot to the far post, beating the UWM keeper.

The game stayed that way until close to halftime, when Drake took advantage of its best opportunity of the evenly matched first half.

With time winding down on intermission, a Panther foul set Drake up about 25 yards straight-out from the goal on a free kick. Kevin Shrout struck for the third time this season and the eventual game-winner, sending one around the wall and into the right side of the goal for the 2-1 advantage at the 43:38 mark that would stand up the rest of the way.

For Milwaukee, junior Ryan Germann got the start and recorded three saves. Breuer stopped six UWM shots in earning the victory.

The Panther Invitational returns to Engelmann Field on Sunday, with the Wisconsin Badgers and Drake getting things underway at 12 noon. The Panthers then host No. 20 Gonzaga at 2:30 p.m. to close out the weekend.