Sept. 16, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Senior Chris Lins gave the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team a 1-0 lead just before intermission on Sunday, but No. 20 Gonzaga University scored two second half goals to record the 2-1 victory at the Panther Invitational.

The Panthers (0-6) played the nationally-ranked Bulldogs (3-2) evenly throughout the match, but could not find a way to overcome giving up two goals in a five-minute stretch early in the second half.

"We have been in every game, so it's very frustrating," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "We need to find a way to get over that hump. I thought we played very well today. We passed the ball around very well and I think, tactically, we were better than they were. But, we got real complacent in that 10-minute stretch when they scored their goals and weren't in it and they capitalized on it."

The biggest play of the second half occurred in the 56th minute. After a steal in back, Gonzaga's George Josten flicked a ball to a teammate on the break. Junior goalkeeper Ryan Germann came off his line to get to the ball at the top of the box, but was called for a foul on the tackle that resulted in a penalty kick situation.

Josten then put in the PK to tie the game and turn the momentum. The Bulldogs capitalized again just 4:36 later, getting the game-winner on a corner kick. Conor Baranski found Nick Barcklay at the near post, slipping it into the net at the tough angle for the eventual game-winner.

Lins put UWM up right before intermission with his first goal of the season. He headed home a perfect 30-yard free kick from senior Martin Castro at the far post to make it 1-0 at the time, just 17 seconds before the halftime horn.

Milwaukee outshot its opponent once again, 10-to-nine, but could not find any quality scoring chances in the final 15 minutes of the match. The Bulldogs did a good job of clearing anything that went into UWM's attacking third, and a free kick by senior Zeke Dombrowski that was grabbed at the end line by GU keeper Vito Higgins was the biggest threat.

Germann played well once again in defeat, recording three saves and stopping two other breakaway opportunities by winning balls at the top of the penalty area. Higgins was credited with three saves in the win.

The physical game featured 34 fouls (18 on UWM) and five cards, including two red cards. At the 36:10 mark, senior Steve Bode was sent off when he got his second yellow card after a tackle in the box. The Panthers had to play a man down for just 2:32, however, as Gonzaga's John Palladino was red-carded after an offsides call at the 38:42 mark.

Drake earned the Panther Invitational title as a result of its 2-0 record, with Wisconsin (1-1) taking second courtesy of its head-to-head win over Gonzaga. GU was third (1-1), with the Panthers in fourth (0-2).

The all-tournament team was headed by four Drake Bulldogs, with Tournament MVP Garrett Webb leading the way. He was joined by teammates Kevin Shrout, Luke Freiberg and Calvin Clark. Wisconsin had three players: Nick Coronna, Alex Horwath and Brandon Miller. Gonzaga was represented by George Josten and Daniel Scott and UWM by Zeke Dombrowski and Tenzin Rampa.

Milwaukee will be back on the road next week, off to its third tournament of the season. The competition won't get any easier as the Panthers head to the Dartmouth Classic in Hanover, N.H., to take on host Dartmouth on Friday (6 p.m. CST) and then Yale Sunday (11 a.m. CST).