Oct. 22, 2008

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Marquette University scored a goal in each half to hand the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team a 2-0 loss Wednesday night at Engelmann Field. The Panthers (4-7-5) had the run of play and were the much more dangerous team - especially in the second half - but the Golden Eagles (3-7-4) came up with their biggest goal output since their home opener to take back the Milwaukee Cup for the first time since the 2003 season.

"The loss is disappointing but it just wasn't our night," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "We created some really good chances but just couldn't get it done. The night was just not our night and now we have to look to the next game. We have a lot left to play for and the postseason to look forward to as well. These next two games are crucial for us, especially with the No. 16 team in the country [UIC] coming in here Saturday."

Milwaukee outshot Marquette, 16-to-11 in the game, but it seemed like on each of the handful of quality scoring chances the team got, the ball either ended up off the post, just wide, just high or a spectacular save getting made by the MU keeper Matt Pyzdrowski.

Twice in the final 10 minutes he came up big, stopping senior Adam Skalecki on a point-blank shot from the wing in the 86th minute and with a one-handed stop on a shot from sophomore Peter Sanger in the box during the 81st minute.

The Golden Eagles made it a 2-0 game late in the second when Tom Lynn fired a shot from the wing to the far post at the 77:51 mark. The only goal of the first half came in the 43rd minute when Calum Mallace created some space near the top of the 18-yard box and sent one to the upper right corner.

Scoreless early, UWM had a great chance to seize momentum in the 34th minute. Sophomore Greg Rosenthal played a long pass from the defending third up to Skalecki, who beat a charging Pyzdrowski to the ball. He chipped it up and over the keeper and towards the open net, only to see the ball ricochet off the left post and back into play.

"The outcome of the game would be different if a couple of chances that we had early were taken better care of," Coleman said. "I think that we continued to stay persistent and battled to create even more chances in the second half, we just got a bit unlucky tonight but that is the game - especially in a local rivalry like this."

Late in the match, the aggressive Panther offense continued to create chances. A close-range header by freshman Tony Maxey in the 73rd minute was stopped, as was Rosenthal's attempt in the 68th minute. Rosenthal dribbled nearly the length of the field before taking a give-and-go at the top of the 18-yard box, only to see a deflection by the final defender take nearly all the momentum off the blast.

Freshman Eric Frazier accounted for a game-high seven shots, but could put only one on frame. His open toe-poke from inside the goal box crept just wide of the far post in the 55th minute and then saw his volley from about 16 yards out go just over the cross bar in the 48th minute.

Pyzdrowski ended the night with a five-save shutout, while senior Ryan Germann recorded two saves in defeat. Despite losing the shot tally, MU did hold the 6-to-4 edge in corner kicks and was also called for 14 of the 21 fouls.

The Panthers need to regroup quickly, as they face a huge Horizon League game Saturday. The team welcomes the UIC Flames, currently ranked No. 16 in the nation, for a 7 p.m. start at Engelmann Field.