Sept. 21, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

HANOVER, N.H. - Junior goalkeeper Ryan Germann made seven saves Friday night, including several spectacular stops, but Dartmouth University scored an early goal and held on, 1-0, at the Dartmouth Classic. The Panthers (0-7) generated the majority of the offense in the final 30 minutes against the Big Green (4-1-1), but could not find the back of the net to force overtime.

"Let's face it, I think we played some quality soccer today," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "The guys played with so much heart and determination. We created some great opportunities. I think we have broken through even though we have not gotten into the win column."

Senior Zeke Dombrowski nearly tied the game in the 74th minute, but his header off a perfectly-placed corner kick from junior Adam Skalecki was stopped at the line by the left hand of Big Green keeper Sean Milligan. Dombrowski had a shot at the rebound as well, but it was blocked by a teammate.

Junior Colin Baker sent a header just wide in the 79th minute following a nice build-up from midfield by freshman Greg Rosenthal and a well-struck cross from senior Martin Castro. Other second-half chances for Milwaukee included a save of another Baker shot in the 68th minute and a stop of a blast from Skalecki from the top of the 18-yard box in the 61st minute.

Germann played very well in defeat, keeping the Panthers in the game with stop after stop. Late in the second, he made a one-handed save on a shot from Craig Henderson, after Henderson had the breakaway on a through ball.

He also made a leaping, back-pedaling, one-handed stop in the 57th minute after a 30-yard chip from Matt Carroll, knocking the ball off target.

"When called upon to keep the ball out of the net and keep us in the game, Germann stepped up to the task," Coleman said.

Dartmouth did carry the majority of the run of the play in the first half, outshooting UWM, eight-to-two, and forcing seven corner kicks to just one for the Panthers.

The lone goal of the first half came in the ninth minute, when sophomore Nkuti Ndely and Henderson challenged for possession of the ball on the Big Green's side of midfield. The ball squirted unexpectedly right to Andrew Olson, who ended up in a one-on-one break after nearly being offsides. He then beat Germann for the only score of the match.

Germann did an impressive job in keeping Dartmouth off the scoreboard the rest of the first half as well. He made a stop in the eighth minute on a two-on-one situation to keep it at zeros early.

He also made key saves in the 29th minute and right before intermission. In the 29th, the Big Green had a breakaway situation after a UWM turnover in back, but Germann turned away Henderson's blast from the top of the penalty area.

A foul on Germann set up the final threat of the half, giving DU a free kick from just outside of the penalty area with about four minutes remaining. Matt Ordonez sent a bender around the wall and to the far post, but Germann got just enough of a glove on it to push it off the post.

The closest the Panthers came to scoring before halftime was in the 16th minute, when senior Tenzin Rampa sent a shot from the top of the 18-yard box just wide after a UWM corner kick was cleared to him.

For the game, Dartmouth held the 13-10 edge in shots and seven-to-four advantage in corners. Milligan recorded four saves in the shutout.

Milwaukee finishes weekend action with a game on Sunday, playing Yale - which fell 2-0 to St. Francis (Pa.) Friday - in its final contest of the Dartmouth Classic. Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m. CST.