Box Score |  Notes

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Sept. 28, 2007) - Sophomore Erin Kreuser had a goal and two assists and senior Joanna Severson added two goals to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team to a 5-1 victory at Butler Friday evening in the league opener for both teams.

The Panthers opened their league season with a win for the 10th-straight year and are now 5-3-1 on the season. Butler fell to 2-6-1 on the year.

"I was very happy with our finishing and our commitment to get into the attack forward," head coach Michael Moynihan said. "I thought we did well with the opportunities we created. I thought this is the first game where we finished a high percentage of the opportunities we had. That was a nice step in the right direction."

Kreuser and freshman Nicole Sperl each set up goals for one another to stake the Panthers out to a 2-0 halftime lead. Sperl started the first scoring play just over six minutes into the game, sending a diagonal ball to Kreuser inside the box. Kreuser took a touch and beat the keeper at the far post.

Sperl then headed in a cross from Kreuser in the 22nd minute with what proved to be the game-winner. Senior Pam Shipway found Kreuser in the corner and Kreuser beat a defender inside before finding Sperl for the score.

Milwaukee was efficient in the first half, scoring on its first two shots of the match. UWM held a 5-1 edge in shots before finishing the game ahead 16-7 in the category. Both teams took three corner kicks in the game, all in the second half. The Panthers were whistled for an uncharacteristic eight offside calls after having been called for just two in the first eight games of the season.

"I thought it was interesting game from the flow stand point," Moynihan said. "I thought in the first half we didn't give up much, but a lot of the play was more neutral and we scored two goals, but both of the we decent goals and were created well. But then to start the second half we gave them a lot of opportunities to get back into the game. We were scrambling at points and Erin Kane made some nice saves to keep us ahead 2-nil. Then we finally asserted ourselves and finished the game off. I would have like to see that earlier."

UWM and the Butler exchanged penalty kicks to remain separated by two goals. Severson converted her PK opportunity in the 76th minute and BU's leading scorer Angie Muir broke up the shutout with one of her own three minutes later.

Severson picked up her second goal of the game another three minutes later on a cross from sophomore Kate Megna. Shipway then capped the scoring just before the 90th minute, finishing near post off Kreuser's second assist of the match.

"She's been instrumental in creating so many goals," Moynihan said. "She had quite a streak going where she was setting up or scoring every goal. She has proven herself consistently dangerous. It's nice to have a player on the field that can create like that. She makes a lot of our offense go."

The Butler PK was the lone blemish on the night for junior keeper Erin Kane. She stopped two shots in spectacular fashion for her 30th career win. The most impressive stop came in the 51st minute when Muir blasted a free kick off the cross bar. Abbie Kaul followed with a head on the rebound from three yards out, but Kane got in the way to snuff out the threat.

The Panthers continue their Horizon league road trip at Detroit Sunday. Milwaukee and UDM kick off at 11 a.m. Central time.