Sept. 12, 2008

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Senior goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum recorded the 16th shutout of his career to help the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team earn a 0-0 draw against Binghamton University Friday night at the 35th Annual Panther Invitational. The Panthers (1-2-2) and Bearcats (2-1-2) combined for 29 shots, but none found the back of the net on a rainy night at Engelmann Field.

Milwaukee had the best of it in the overtime sessions, outshooting its opponent 6-to-2 in the extra time. Numerous chances came close, but none would make it past either of the goalkeepers on this night.

"I thought we put ourselves in a position to come out ahead," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "I think if some of the guys were to look back and have some of those (offensive) chances again, they would want to maybe execute them a bit differently. In a lot of our overtime games, we have fallen short. But, walking away with at least a point, we are that one step closer."

Sophomore Greg Rosenthal had an opportunity to be the hero twice in the second overtime, only to see his 30-yard blast saved in the 106th minute before sending a rocket just over the cross bar in the 108th minute of play. The Bearcats lone chance in the frame was a 20-yard attempt from the top of the box in transition that went high by a wide margin.

In the first overtime, freshman Evan Bartzis took a long pass from junior Nicholas Gerard-Larson and dribbled through traffic near the end line. His shot from a tough angle nearly snuck in, but BU keeper Jason Stenta came up with a nice save to extend the action.

Stenta stopped Bartzis near the end of regulation as well, coming up with a save in the 87th minute on a quality scoring chance for Milwaukee.

Sophomore Abe Gibbons nearly put one on the scoreboard in the 79th minute after fighting Stenta for possession of the ball just a few yards away from the goal. After getting a foot on the ball, Gibbons short shot went off a Bearcat defender before being played back out.

The Panther defense played strongly all night, not allowing a shot on goal until the 71st minute. Fernstrum made the easy save at the time, the only one he was called upon for in recording his second shutout of the season and 16th of his career.

The field conditions did factor into the play quite a bit. A heavy downpour about 10 minutes before kickoff lasted well into the first minutes of action and there were plenty of players slipping on the wet grass.

"It definitely made the surface slick. I thought our guys handled it well," Coleman said. "But, both teams had to play under the conditions. It took us a little while to adjust and got us in trouble some times."

The majority of the first half was played in the midfield, with nearly all of the 12 shots before intermission coming from distance and only one ending up on frame.

The 20 shots recorded by the Panthers, led by a ateam-high five by freshman Eric Frazier, were a season-high and also marked the most for the squad since taking 24 on Sept. 29, 2007 against Valparaiso. The team also held the slight 6-to-5 edge in corner kicks and was whistled for 12 of the game's 25 fouls.

Unfortunately, Milwaukee also saw its overtime "jinx" get extended to 20 games, as it remains without a victory in the stretch, going 0-7-13 in extra time dating back to 2004.

The Panthers return to action Sunday, playing Cal State Northridge on the final day of the Panther Invitational. The game is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start, as Wisconsin and Binghamton will get things underway at noon.

In the first game of the day, the Badgers moved to 4-0-1 overall with a 2-0 victory over the Matadors.