Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Oct. 24, 2008) - Sophomore Sarah Talbert scored two goals just 2:08 apart early in the first half and the Panther defense allowed just two shots as the 18th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team defeated Detroit, 3-0, Friday evening at Engelmann Field.

The Panthers (14-2-2, 6-1 Horizon) won for the fifth-straight game, all via shutout, while freshman Sarah Hagen broke the school's single-season scoring record with a goal and two assists. Meanwhile, the Titans (8-7-1, 4-3 Horizon) dropped their second-straight decision.

"We finished early in the game and it was nice. It gave us a little bit of breathing room," UWM head coach Michael Moynihan said. "We didn't give up a shot in the second half and everybody played. A lot of people played some decent minutes, so we got everybody involved and I thought everybody showed well for themselves. Their goalie kept this from being a blowout. She had a couple of phenomenal saves, you have to give her credit."

Talbert got the scoring started in the 16th minute, finishing off assists from Hagen and junior Erin Kreuser. Kreuser started the play with a ball to Hagen, who sent a diagonal ball past the defense. Talbert ran on to the ball and beat the Detroit keeper to the ball and finished far post.

Just over two minutes later, Hagen played a ball from the endline to the near post where sophomore Heather Roadhouse was able to one-touch the ball around the keeper and Talbert tapped the ball in from just a yard out.

"(Talbert) came out and had two big goals. She was a constant threat and showed a lot of energy early in the game and getting forward," Moynihan said. "Then, we moved her out wide and she was dangerous as well. She created a lot of good serves. You also have to look at the other side, Kate (Megna), she was solid throughout. This one of the most consistent games we've seen from her."

The two assists pushed Hagen's season total to 38, which tied the school record held by Lisa Krzykowski. Hagen then tallied UWM's third goal of the game in the 70th minute to give her a school-record 40 points. Junior Kate Megna tracked down a long ball from the midfield and beat a defender inside. She sent a cross to the far post, which Kreuser then sent back to the center of the box. Hagen was there for her 18th goal of the season.

Milwaukee gained momentum throughout the first half and really turned on the pressure after halftime. The Panthers outshot the Titans 24-2 for the game, sending 14 shots on goal. UDM keeper Katie Fortenberry made 11 saves on the night, keeping UDM in the contest with a number of spectacular saves.

"I thought we got better as the game went on. A lot of teams come out pretty amped up to play against us, so there's a lot of energy," Moynihan said. "They press pretty hard early in the game and there's a feeling-out period. It's not that we come out slow, but it`s a very emotional games for a lot of teams to play. I think we've handled it well."

Freshman Makenzie Gillaspie played a high ball to the top of the box in the 66th minute that junior Louise Vraney rocketed on goal. Fortenberry tipped the ball over the crossbar to keep it a 2-0 game. Then, in the 75th minute, Megna sent a free kick at the near post from 25 yards out. UDM's keeper once again made the stop and was able to get back and keep a Hagen rebound shot out of the goal.

On the other side of the field, senior Erin Kane was able to pick up the shutout without making a save. She anchored the Panther defense, coming off her line a couple times to snuff out any chances the Titans may have been able to create.

The Panthers' current shutout and winning streak came on the heels of their first league loss in five years and their first shutout of the season, a 1-0 loss at Loyola Oct. 3. As a team, they are averaging 4.2 goals per game since then, have not scored less than three goals in a game and haven't allowed a goal in over 500 minutes.

"It was hard for a lot of our players. They had not experience a loss in conference before. It gave us a chance to re-focus and I think we got better in some areas," Moynihan said. "That's helped. In that game, Loyola defended very well. When the pressure's on and the weather gets worse (the goals) can dry up. So, we're not going to take it for granted. We are going to keep working on them and keep building and hopefully they continue through the post-season."

UWM closes out the regular season Sunday, hosting Valparaiso at noon.