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MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Oct. 18, 2009) - Sophomore Sarah Hagen scored a goal in her ninth-straight game and that is all the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team needed to defeat Wright State, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Field.

With the win, the Panthers (9-5-3, 7-0 Horizon) laid claim to their 10th-straight Horizon League regular season championship. The Raiders (9-6-2, 4-2 Horizon) are in second place and were the last remaining one-loss team in the standings.

"It was a huge win for us," UWM head coach Michael Moynihan said. "We had a lot on the line today. If Wright State could have come in here and knocked us off, they would have most likely been hosting the conference tournament. It was important for us to play it here."

As league champions, the Panthers will play the 2009 Horizon League Championship as the No. 1 seed and host the semifinals and championship. The No. 1 also has a bye into the semifinals, where it will face the lowest seed to advance out of the quarterfinals.

Hagen's goal came in the second half, as Milwaukee generated repeated opportunities on the Wright State goal. The Panthers outshot WSU 21-2 in the half, forcing Raider goalkeeper Meghan Hackerson into nine saves in the second half alone.

Senior Kate Megna picked up her nation-best 14th assist of the season with a cross to the far post from the near sideline in the 78th minute. Hagen fended off her defender to head the ball past Hackerson for the game's only score.

UWM had a number of chances in the second half, but had to settle for the one goal. In the 50th minute, freshman Helen Steinhauser and sophomore Keara Thompson had back-to-back shots saved, with Steinhauser's being pushed off the post. Thompson was denied again in the 61st minute when her shot was deflected off the crossbar by the keeper.

After a 9-3 shot advantage in the first half, Milwaukee had taken 10 shots by 12:50 into the second half. It ended with a commanding 30-5 lead in shots. Hagen took nine of those shots, while Thompson and Megna each attempted five. The Panthers also forced five corner kicks, compared to just one by Wright State.

On the defensive end. UWM managed to stifle any Raider attacks throughout the match. The visitors were most dangerous in the closing minutes of regulation as they fought for an equalizing score, but the defense held firm and conceded just one shot over the final three minutes of the game.

Freshman Jamie Forbes made one save for her eighth shutout of the season and her fourth-straight in league play. On the other end, Hackerson finished with 11 saves.

With the league title in tow, the Panthers return to the field with one match next week. They travel to Green Bay to take on the Phoenix Friday night at Aldo Santaga Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.