Oct. 18, 2008

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

CHICAGO, Ill. - Senior Ryan Germann recorded a shutout in goal and freshman Eric Frazier scored in the 77th minute to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Loyola University Saturday night at Loyola Soccer park. The Panthers (4-6-5, 1-3-2 Horizon) broke through for their first league win against the Ramblers (8-4-1, 3-2-0 Horizon), a team that came into play just one point out of first place in the league standings and ranked No. 10 in the NSCAA Great Lakes Region.

"We are going to keep fighting - to get the result here is fantastic," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "Right now the mentality of the guys is a `never-say-die' attitude. To get a win away from home is great, especially against such a good team. This will really create some momentum to carry into the next three games."

Germann recorded six saves in the contest, making several spectacular stops. He also had some help, as LU had a last-minute chance thwarted by the Milwaukee defense. Freshmen Nick Dundon and Tony Maxey combined to block three close-range shots in a 24-second span of the 90th minute.

Frazier's goal was scored late in the second half, coming off a 35-yard free kick that resulted from a hand ball called on a Loyola defender. He ripped the blast on goal, catching a piece of the wall to redirect it a bit and into the net for his team-leading fifth marker of the season at the 76:50 mark.

"He hadn't scored in a few games and you could see him step up and say `I am going to get this' and he did," Coleman said. "He hit it well and it found the back of the net."

Frazier also had a great scoring chance in the first half, but Rambler keeper Brian Byrne somehow managed to save his 10-yard rocket on a nice thru ball from sophomore Robert Refai in the 35th minute.

Germann stood tall all night, making a handful of highlight-reel stops in the first half to keep the game scoreless at the time. In the 43rd minute, he ended up pinning Erik Warren's header off the cross bar before clearing it. In the 38th minute, a Rambler free kick to the far post was headed on frame by Mark Halma, but Germann made a diving stop at the post to keep it from crossing the line. Lastly, in the 15th minute, he punched Eric Gehrig's blast from the top of the box up and over the cross bar.

"Ryan did a great job of stepping up when need be with a couple of fingertip saves," Coleman said. "If we are not at our best, he needs to be and he was tonight."

UWM overcame deficits of 19-to-7 in shots and 9-to-1 in corner kicks to come through for the victory.

Milwaukee returns to action Wednesday, hosting Marquette in the annual battle for the Milwaukee Cup. The Panthers and Golden Eagles get action underway at Engelmann Field starting at 7 p.m.