Box Score |  Notes

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (Sept. 30, 2007) - Despite being the aggressors throughout two overtime periods and outshooting Detroit 18-6, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team played to a 0-0 tie with the Titans Sunday afternoon in Clinton Township.

The tie is the first blemish on the league records of both teams, putting each squad at 1-0-1 in league play. The Panthers are now 5-3-2 on the year, while UDM is 3-6-1. Milwaukee also pushed its overtime unbeaten streak to 20 games (9-0-11).

UWM looked hungry for the golden goal in the overtime periods, outshooting Detroit 6-0 after regulation and nearly breaking through a handful of times. Play was rarely on Milwaukee's defensive side of the field, as the Panthers continually pushed for the deciding score.

"I think for the majority of the match we out-played them," head coach Michael Moynihan said. "There was a stretch in the second half where they were sending a lot of long balls. The game really didn't have any rhythm to it at that point. Once we got through that and settled it down a bit we generated a number of opportunities.

"On a field that is this hard and bumpy, it's difficult to do much with the ball. The only dangerous chance we allowed, that I can remember, was a soft back pass on our part."

In the 95th minute, sophomore Kate Megna took a Panther free kick from 25 yards out and bent it at the far post. UDM keeper Katie Fortenberry made a sprawling save to keep the game tied.

With 3:25 to play in the second extra period, freshman Nicole Sperl chipped the keeper, but saw her shot bounce just wide of the target. Freshman Erin DeYoung, who played the second overtime at forward after starting on defense, got the ball to Sperl on a flick from the midfield. Fortenberry came off her line and Sperl used her one touch for the chip.

As mentioned, Milwaukee outshot Detroit 18-6, while also forcing two more corner kicks (6-4). UWM also put four shots on frame, compared to three by the Titans and was whistled for six less fouls (18-12) than the home team.

"In terms of generating quality opportunities, we had a lot of them," Moynihan said. "I was very happy with the quality of our serves on our set pieces. We hadn't had that for a while. I thought Kate (Megna), Beth (Steuer) and Amanda (Winn) all hit some very good free kicks and we had some good chances to score on them.

"We just have to do better with it. This is one of those games, in these conditions and with their playing style, we just need one goal. That's it. We weren't able to get it. That makes for a rough trip."

Junior Erin Kane picked up her fifth shutout of the season with three saves, while Fortenberry finished with four saves on the game.

Neither team demonstrated much of an advantage in the first half, with the Panthers pushing more of the game's action on their attacking half of the field. The result was seven shots for UWM, compared to one by the Titans.

Sophomore Erin Kreuser had the team's best opportunity of the opening period, getting a ball in the near corner and dribbling around the Detroit defense. She got within a couple yards of the goal when she unloaded a shot that went in to the side of the net.

Each team had one corner kick in the first half, with Milwaukee netting a pair of shots off its chance. Megna sent the corner to the far post and both senior Pam Shipway and freshman Claire Watkins had shots, with one being blocked and another saved.

After halftime, both teams controlled stretches of the second half, posting identical stats for shots (5-5) and corner kicks (3-3) in the half.

Milwaukee is an action three times in the coming week, kicking things off at Green Bay Wednesday (Oct. 3). The Panthers then host Iowa in a non-conference contest Friday then Youngstown State Sunday.