Sept. 14, 2008

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Senior goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum made a season-high 10 saves to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Cal State Northridge Sunday afternoon at the 35th Annual Panther Invitational. The Panthers (2-2-2) made it through the weekend unbeaten after the win over the Matadors (3-3-3), a team that came into the weekend ranked No. 10 in the NSCAA Far West Regional poll.

Sophomore Peter Sanger was the difference-maker on offense, netting the game-winner in the 82nd minute for the first goal of his UWM career. The win gave the Panthers a share of the Panther Invitational title with Binghamton. Both teams were 1-0-1 on the weekend and the squads tied, 0-0, head-to-head Friday. Goal differential was also the same (both posted 1-0 wins in their other games), so co-champions were declared.

"The defense did well again today," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "No goals on the weekend - that is fantastic. We showed a lot of character, which is great, and I saw a lot of commitment from everyone on the field supporting a real connection and excitement about wanting to get the result and wanting what is best for everybody."

Sanger found himself free against the Matador goalkeeper in the 82nd minute on a nice thru ball from freshman Eric Frazier. After taking a couple of quick touches to get around the final defender, Sanger sent the shot to the far post, which it struck before caroming back into the goal at the 81:12 mark.

"Things weren't going that great for him (Sanger), but he stayed persistent," Coleman said. "He stayed real composed in and around the attacking third, cut in and - without over-complicating things - found the window."

Fernstrum - who was named the MVP of the tournament - and his defense did the rest. The senior made several spectacular saves to earn his second-straight clean sheet, including one in the 80th minute on a rifled shot by Chris Leiva that he was able to get a hand on and knock up-and-over the cross bar. He also made a great play to thwart CSUN's final chance, going high into a crowd of three players to grab a loose ball right in front of the goal with less than 25 seconds remaining in the match.

"Grant really bailed us out early in the first half after a few mistakes in the back," Coleman said. "He really came through big."

Milwaukee had a couple of other chances to get on the scoreboard. Freshman Evan Bartzis saw his close-range chip shot get stopped in the 73rd minute and also hit the far post after a perfect serve from senior Travis Phillips on a free kick in the 52nd minute.

Fernstrum was at his best on a couple of other occasions, making a diving stop of a low screamer in the 64th minute and also coming up huge just 3:53 into the contest. A miscommunication along the back line allowed Luis Smith to get open at the wing of the six-yard box, but Fernstrum made the close-range, do-or-die stop to keep it at zeroes.

For the game, the Matadors outshot the Panthers, 18-to-12, and held a 10-to-5 edge in shots on target. They also forced twice as many corner kicks as UWM (6-to-3) and were called for nine of the 15 fouls in the game. Freshman Nick Dundon led the Milwaukee offense with three shots.

The field became a large factor in the game, as it was a wet, muddy, sloppy mess by the time the two games had finished for the day. A constant rain fell throughout the first game of the day (which Binghamton beat Wisconsin, 1-0) and did not stop until near halftime of the second.

After playing in three-consecutive weekend tournaments to open the 2008 schedule, Milwaukee will have just one game next week. The Panthers host SIU-Edwardsville Saturday at 7 p.m.

35th Annual Panther Invitational
Co-Champions: Milwaukee and Binghamton 1-0-1
3rd: Wisconsin 1-1-0
4th: CS Northridge 0-2-0

All-Tournament Team
Grant Fernstrum, Milwaukee (Tournament MVP)
Greg Rosenthal, Milwaukee
Peter Sanger, Milwaukee
Tony Maxey, Milwaukee
Jason Stenta, Binghamton
Barry Neville, Binghamton
Ryan Walter, Binghamton
Brandon Miller, Wisconsin
Taylor Waspi, Wisconsin
Kevin Guppe, CS Northridge
Chad Borak, CS Northridge