Sept. 2, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MADISON, Wis. - Eric DeFreitas struck for the game-winning goal in the 96th minute on Sunday, helping Tulsa escape with a 2-1 overtime victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team in Madison. With the result, the Golden Hurricane (2-0) give the Panthers (0-2) back-to-back one-goal losses at the Middleton Cycle & Fitness Invitational over the weekend.

"Today was really a test of our character as a team," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "We worked Tulsa out but could not capitalize and we continue to let our mistakes cost us games."

The game-winner came at the 95:01 mark, when DeFreitas beat junior goalkeeper Ryan Germann to a loose ball in the box that was flicked on by a Tulsa player. After out-shooting Tulsa 15-10 in regulation, the Milwaukee offense was unable to record a shot in the overtime session.

Milwaukee had a final chance right before the end of regulation on a free kick, but senior Zeke Dombrowski's shot over the wall went just above the cross bar with 20 seconds left.

The Panthers fell behind 1-0 on a goal by Hunter Christiansen in the 30th minute, hurting themselves with another mistake. Germann had to come off his line to chase a poor back pass and won a tackle with a Tulsa defender for the ball. However, the ball squirted to Christiansen who was able to chip it over Germann for the early lead.

UWM battled back to find the equalizer before the half. Senior Martin Castro's corner kick started the play. After the ball came back out, Dombrowski scored for the second-straight game, finding the upper right corner of the goal from about 20 yards out on the second-phase attack.

Milwaukee missed a chance to get on the board early in the game. Junior Adam Skalecki found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper after a flick over the back row from senior Martin Castro. His shot attempt made it past the keeper, but went off the post.

In both of its losses this weekend, UWM outshot and held the corner kick advantage with both of its opponents. In addition to the 15-13 edge in shots on Sunday, it also held the eight-to-four edge in corner kicks.

The Panthers have been through a tough stretch of similar losses. Ten of their past 11 defeats have been by one goal, while overtime has also not been kind. In the past 14 overtime games that UWM has played in, the team is 0-7-7.

"We have to be stronger mentally," Coleman said. "We have to stop allowing ourselves to make those mental mistakes."

The challenges continue for Coleman and his squad next weekend, as they are set to travel out west to California. The first game of the weekend is Friday against UC Santa Barbara, the defending NCAA national champion from a year ago. Game time is set for 9:05 p.m. central.