Sept. 20, 2008

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Sophomore Robert Refai and freshman Eric Frazier scored goals to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday night at Engelmann Field. The Panthers (3-2-2) gave up a late penalty kick to the Cougars (3-3-0), but that was all the defense would allow as the team remained unbeaten at home this season.

Refai netted the eventual game-winner in the 52nd minute, running on to a long diagonal pass from Frazier. After taking a couple of touches to get around the last defender, Refai beat the keeper for the first game-winner of his UWM career.

The defense was solid again, holding SIUE to very few quality opportunities after it pushed forward looking for the tying goal late in the game. Senior Grant Fernstrum made a final save in the 89th minute, stopping a low line-drive from about 25 yards out. He also came through with a clutch play in the 88th minute, coming off his line to get to a dangerous thru ball and punching it out of danger before anything could develop.

"Our defense was solid all the way across the back," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "Grant (Fernstrum) played really well - it was unfortunate to give up the penalty kick - but I thought we could have kept a clean sheet. We defended as an 11-man unit. Our back line definitely stepped up when we needed them to, but I think overall, collectively, we defended better from top to bottom.

Frazier got things started in the first half, sending a blast from the top of the penalty area up-and-over the shoulder of the SIUE keeper to open the scoring and give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead at intermission.

Sophomore Peter Sanger began the scoring play, dribbling around a defender on the far end line before opening up enough room to get a long serve. The ball found senior Adam Skalecki at the far post, who had a tough angle for any attempt. The ball ended up going directly to Frazier at the top of the 18-yard box, who volleyed a rocket to the back of the net for his second goal of the season at the 31:23 mark.

The Cougars prevented what would have been the third-straight shutout in the 66th minute when they converted a penalty kick.

The Milwaukee offense had several other close chances in the first half, but Frasca made point-blank stops on Sanger in the 14th minute and on freshman Evan Bartzis in the 28th minute. Sanger went dribbling through the SIUE defense from midfield before his attempt was stopped, while senior Travis Phillips found Bartzis with a long pass on his effort. Bartzis also sent a close-range header just high in the 19th minute on a perfect serve from Skalecki.

"It's a game of what-if's," Coleman said. "We had some chances, that is for sure. The finish Frazier had was fantastic. And Robert, when called upon and given the opportunity, stepped up and won us the game. Both players - Frazier and Robert - that is where they are the best. Staying composed in the box and when the opportunity came up they sealed the deal."

Fernstrum, the reigning Horizon League Player of the Week, made four other saves outside of the PK attempt to earn the victory, including a stop where he had to go high on a quick reaction to grab a header from Mike Jones in the 38th minute. The penalty kick that SIUE netted stopped a scoreless streak of 266:11 for Fernstrum. Nick Frasca was also credited with four stops for the Cougars in the loss.

In the game, Milwaukee held a 14-to-12 advantage in shots, including a 6-to-5 edge in shots on target. SIUE forced six corners to none for UWM and was called for 16 of the 30 fouls in the game. The match also featured six yellow cards.

The game was the only contest of the weekend for Milwaukee, as it opens Horizon League play next weekend with a trip to Valparaiso University Friday, set for a 3:30 p.m. start.