Aug. 23, 2009

Box Score |  Quotes

MILWAUKEE - Sophomores Eric Frazier and Zach Funk scored a pair of second-half goals within a span of 38 seconds to send the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in its exhibition finale Sunday at Engelmann Field. For the second-straight game, the Panthers overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to earn the victory and conclude the 2009 exhibition season at a perfect 2-0.

"I think we definitely settled down and in the second half we started playing our game," Milwaukee head coach Jon Coleman said. "It didn't look good for us in the first 45 minutes. But, the guys showed a lot of character and persistence. They turned it around, fought to get back in the game and then to go ahead and win it."

The game was a tale of two halves, as UWM outshot the Warhawks 12-to-2 after intermission and dominated the run of play. Frazier scored on a penalty kick at the 68:21 mark and Funk tallied the game winner shortly after that, sending a 20-yard shot past the diving keeper on a breakaway attempt at the 68:59 mark.

"We started moving the ball quicker and started to take advantage of areas of the field that we are strong in and started to exploit some of there weaknesses," Coleman said. "But, credit to Whitewater. They came in here not wanting to back down and really stepped up and made it difficult for us."

The scoring play that resulted in the penalty kick was started by Frazier as well, as he fed freshman Andrew Wiedabach with a touch pass at the top of the 18-yard box. Wiedabach had an opening but was fouled hard in the box before getting off a shot.

Junior Peter Sanger set up the game-winner, sending a long pass to a streaking Wiedabach on the break. He got a shoulder on it to send it ahead to Funk, who sent the winner to the far post and the Panthers to the 2-1 victory.

Freshman John Shakon earned the win in net, but was not called upon to make any saves in the second half. Sophomore Sam Alexander earned the start and gave up a tough goal, but did make three other important saves before the half to keep the deficit at 1-0.

Luke Buchholz opened the scoring for Whitewater, sending a lofted 25-yard strike over the keeper's head and into the net at the 21:35 mark.

UWM had a few quality chances to get on the board in the first, but UWW's Andrew Krueger, who finished the match with seven saves, made a few brilliant saves to keep Milwaukee off the board. He stopped a rocket off the foot of sophomore Aaron Gibbons that seemed certain to find the back of the net in the 43rd minute and also made an impressive stop on Wiedabach in the 57th minute with a diving save at the post.

For the game, the Panthers held the 20-to-8 advantage in shots, as well as a 9-to-4 edge in shots on goal. They forced five corners to just one for Whitewater and were whistled for 14 of the game's 25 fouls.

Frazier and junior Greg Rosenthal each tallied a game-high four shots and Wiedabach finished with three, all of which were on goal. All in all, 21 players saw playing time for UWM.

Following the annual alumni game Aug. 26, the regular season is up next for Milwaukee. It opens the 2009 slate with a big matchup against Marquette for the Milwaukee Cup, taking on the Golden Eagles Sept. 1 at Valley Fields, starting at 7 p.m. That game is scheduled to air live on Time Warner Cable Sports 32.