Sept. 5, 2008

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MADISON, Wis. - Freshman Eric Frazier scored the game-winner with just 41 second remaining to give the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over the University of Dayton at the Middleton Sports & Fitness Invitational Friday. The Panthers (1-1-1) get their first victory of the season against the Flyers (2-1-0), a team that came into the game ranked No. 5 in the Middle Atlantic NSCAA/adidas region.

"The guys knew what they had to do, they believed in it and then they did it," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "We got a lot of great performances from a lot of players. Keeping a clean sheet is what we are going to need to do - the back line, the keeper, everyone, did a nice job preventing Dayton from doing what they like to do."

Frazier finished with a game-high six shots, coming close to a goal on numerous occasions before finally finding the back of the net with less than a minute left in the contest. He poked in a 12-yard shot in traffic on a run from the right wing, fed on a perfect pass through the back line of defense from the foot of freshman Nick Dundon.

"Amazing ... I am on cloud nine right now," Frazier said. "It was awesome to get the first goal and especially to get our first win. (Assistant) Coach (Jesse) Rosen told me before the game that he thought I was going to get one tonight ... I guess he just had a feeling and I was able to make it happen."

The Panthers kept up the pressure in the second half, outshooting the Flyers, 11-to-7, in the period and 17-to-14 in the game.

Milwaukee nearly had some other late-contest heroics, but senior Adam Skalecki had his attempt saved at the post in the 87th minute. After a long punt from senior Grant Fernstrum, freshman Evan Bartzis took a touch and sent a perfect pass to Skalecki at the back post, but DU keeper Alex Davis was able to make a sprawling stop.

"It would have been easy for us to say `it's not our day' today," Coleman said. "But we stayed resilient; we stayed persistent and with 41 seconds left we found our chance."

Frazier had back-to-back chances in the 70th and 77th minute, only to see his free kick go just high and his blast from the top of the 18-yard box get deflected up-and-over the cross bar.

Fernstrum recorded the 15th shutout of his career, making six saves in the game. A couple of key saves by each keeper kept the game scoreless in the first half. Fernstrum denied the Flyers on their best chance of the game in the 38th minute, making a diving save on a close-range header from Jeff Popella.

For UWM, Frazier nearly put the Panthers on the board at the 33-minute mark, but his blast from the top of the penalty area was saved by Davis. Junior Nicholas Gerard-Larson had played a ball back in from near midfield, finding Frazier alone at the top of the box.

Frazier also nearly assisted Bartzis for a goal in the 30th minute after stealing an errant back pass from the DU back line. His feed for Bartzis on the break was nearly perfect, but Davis came sprinting off his line to just barely beat him to the ball.

Milwaukee will close out weekend action at the Middleton Sports & Fitness Invitational Sunday, taking on No. 14 Santa Clara in a game scheduled to start at noon in Madison.