Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Sept. 23, 2007) - Junior Erin Kane made seven saves to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team to a 0-0 draw against cross-town rival No. 24 Marquette Sunday evening at Engelmann Field.

The Panthers (4-3-1) gave the Golden Eagles (8-0-1) the first blemish on their 2007 record. Milwaukee also pushed its unbeaten streak in overtime games to 19-straight (9-0-10), dating back to 2004.

"I thought overall tonight was a good display of soccer for Milwaukee," Milwaukee head coach Michael Moynihan said. "There was a lot of Wisconsin talent on both teams. We had a great crowd. It was an end-to-end game, both teams got their chances. I thought it was good for soccer overall--two good programs that are very close and that have battled close over the last few years."

In the second overtime UWM seemed poised to come away with the golden goal, as it came out of a short break to control the pace of play early in the period. Freshman Erin DeYoung sent a laser of a shot just wide in the 102nd minute and sophomore Kate Megna sent a similar shot into the gut of MU keeper Laura Boyer just seconds later.

In the closing seconds of the match, sophomore Erin Kreuser beat the Golden Eagle back line into the box and sent a cross pass the goal, but Megna could not rid herself of her defender to get a shot off.

Both teams forced a number of attacks in an evenly played match, with Kane and her counterpart Boyer, each keeping the other team off the board. Kane picked up her third career shutout over a ranked team and became the first goalkeeper in UWM or Horizon League history to amass 30 career shutouts. Boyer, meanwhile, stopped four shots for her fifth clean sheet of the season.

"That's what we live for," Kane said. "I'm good friends with Laura (Boyer) and we both know that that's our job. Games like this are fun, but you want a little better of an outcome."

Ashley Bares propelled the Marquette offense, taking a game-high eight shots, putting three on target and hitting a post another time. Midway through the second overtime she stole a ball at midfield and fended off a Panther defender while running at the goal in a near 1v1 situation. Kane came off her line and saved the impending shot over the crossbar from 15 yards out.

"I thought it was over," Kane said of her game-winning save. "But, I read her well and she just hit it a little too hard. I kept my feet and watched what she was going to do. She was going for a hard finish."

Kane also made a leaping save on an improbable shot by Bares in the 66th minute. Bares sent a high, long shot on goal from 45 yards out. Kane was off her line and went back on the ball, safely swatting it past the end line.

For the match, the Panthers held a slim 19-18 shot advantage and allowed two more corner kicks to their visitors (6-4). Marquette was also whistled for 20 of the game's 34 fouls as both teams played aggressively for the winning goal. Both teams also picked up their first yellow cards of the season, with one apiece.

"I think our team, when we are composed and work hard, it's really hard for (our opponents) to have any attack against us," Kane said. "We had a lot of peaks and a lot of valleys in this game and it's important that we keeping working on it and figure out what it is we need to do to keep at a higher level the whole time."

Freshman Nicole Sperl had a team-best six shots for UWM, while Megna and DeYoung each attempted three.

Milwaukee nearly struck first with the game's first true threat, as senior Amanda Winn sent a free kick into the box from 35 yards out. Junior Sarah Teegarden headed the ball on frame, forcing Boyer to punch the ball over the cross bar. Shortly before halftime, freshman Nicole Sperl headed a DeYoung cross just wide, leaving the game tied at intermission.

UWM picked up its fourth tie against a ranked opponent in school history to go with a pair of wins.

The Panthers are back in action next weekend, when they will open their league schedule on the road at Butler Friday (Sept. 28) and Detroit Sunday (Sept. 30).